Spiral cooking devices and methods of using the same

ABSTRACT

In one aspect, a spiral cooking device includes a first cooking zone with air configured to move horizontally therethrough in a first direction, a second cooking zone with air configured to move horizontally therethrough in a second direction different than the first direction, and a spiral conveyor belt at least partially positioned in the first and second cooking zones and configured to transport food product thereon through the first and second cooking zones. In one aspect, a spiral cooking device includes a spiral conveyor belt providing a central opening inside the belt and a conveyor belt drive member positioned externally of the central opening. In one aspect, a conveyor belt cleaning device is provided. In one aspect, a cooking device includes a frame including a plurality of coupled pipes for providing structural support to the device and at least one of the pipes is configured to have liquid pass therethrough.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation application of, and claims thepriority benefit of, co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/587,697, filed May 5, 2017, which is incorporated by referenceherein. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/587,697 and the presentapplication claim the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 62/332,143, filed May 5, 2016, which is incorporated byreference herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure generally relates to a cooking device for cookingfood product and, more particularly, to a spiral cooking deviceincluding improved cooking performance of food product.

BACKGROUND

Many conventional cooking devices exist and are used to cook foodproduct in a variety of manners. Such conventional cooking devicesattempt to cook food product in reliable, consistent and efficientmanners. However, such conventional cooking devices fall short inachieving one or more of these desired results, thereby resulting in oneor more deficiencies of the conventional cooking devices.

Moreover, spiral cooking devices exist. However, such conventionalspiral cooking devices may lack reliable, consistent and efficientcooking operation.

Conventional spiral cooking devices include a center drive member orcenter drum that engages an interior of a spiral conveyor belt to drivethe spiral conveyor belt. The presence of the center drum significantlyaffects the air and heat flow within the spiral cooking device, therebyproviding uneven and/or inconsistent air and heat distribution withinthe spiral cooking device. The presence of the center drum also occupiesspace in the conventional spiral ovens that could otherwise be occupiedby other components.

SUMMARY

Thus, a need exists for a spiral cooking device that resolves one ormore of these deficiencies.

In one aspect, a spiral cooking device is provided.

In one aspect, a method of operating a spiral cooking device isprovided.

In one aspect, a spiral cooking device is provided and includes aplurality of independently controlled cooking zones, in which at leastone of temperature, pressure, humidity, and air speed may be controlledwithin each zone independently of another zone.

In one aspect, a method of controlling a spiral cooking device isprovided and includes independently controlling a plurality of zoneswithin the spiral cooking device.

In one aspect, a spiral cooking device is provided and includes a firstcooking zone and a second cooking zone, wherein food product isconfigured to pass through the first cooking zone and the second cookingzone, and wherein heated air passes through the first cooking zone in afirst direction and heated air passes through the second cooking zone ina second direction different than the first direction.

In one aspect, a method of cooking food product in a spiral cookingdevice is provided and includes passing heated air through a firstcooking zone of the spiral cooking device in a first direction andpassing heated air through a second cooking zone in a second directiondifferent than the first direction.

In one aspect, a spiral cooking device is provided and includes a firstcooking zone with air configured to move horizontally therethrough in afirst direction and a second cooking zone with air configured to movehorizontally therethrough in a second direction different than the firstdirection.

In one aspect, the second direction may be opposite the first direction.

In one aspect, the spiral cooking device may have an arcuateconfiguration and the first and second directions may be radial withrespect to the arcuate configuration of the spiral cooking device.

In one aspect, the first direction may be outward from a center of thespiral cooking device and the second direction may be inward toward thecenter of the spiral cooking device.

In one aspect, the spiral cooking device may further include a firstadjustable opening in fluid communication with the first cooking zoneand a second adjustable opening in fluid communication with the secondcooking zone. The heated air is configured to pass through the firstadjustable opening into the first cooking zone and heated air isconfigured to pass through the second adjustable opening into the secondcooking zone. A size of the first adjustable opening and a size of thesecond adjustable opening are adjustable.

In one aspect, the spiral cooking device may further include a conveyorbelt at least partially positioned in the first cooking zone and thesecond cooking zone. The conveyor belt is configured to transport foodproduct thereon through the first cooking zone and the second cookingzone.

In one aspect, the cooking device may include a spiral conveyor beltthat has multiple vertical tiers. The multiple vertical tiers ofconveyor belt are positioned in the first cooking zone and the secondcooking zone. The multiple vertical tiers of conveyor belt areconfigured to transport food product thereon through the first cookingzone and the second cooking zone.

In one aspect, the spiral cooking device may further include a thirdcooking zone with air configured to move horizontally therethrough inthe first direction, and a fourth cooking zone with air configured tomove horizontally therethrough in the second direction.

In one aspect, the first, second, third and fourth zones may beconsecutively and concentrically around the arcuately configured spiralcooking device.

In one aspect, a spiral cooking device is provided and includes a firstcooking zone with air configured to move horizontally therethrough in afirst direction and a second cooking zone with air configured to movehorizontally therethrough in a second direction different than the firstdirection.

In one aspect, a spiral cooking device is provided and includes a base,a hood, a spiral conveyor belt at least partially positioned in the hoodand configured to provide a central opening inside the spiral conveyorbelt, and a conveyor belt drive member configured to drive the belt. Thespiral cooking device lacks a central drum in the central openingdefined by the spiral conveyor belt.

In one aspect, a continuous conveyor belt wash device is provided andincludes at least one brush configured to rotate, at least one sprayerconfigured to spray fluid, a soak bin configured to hold an amount offluid through which a conveyor belt passes, a waste bin positioned atleast partially below the brush and configured to receive a combinationof fluid from the sprayer and debris dislodged from the conveyor belt,and a filter belt configured to receive the combination of fluid anddebris from the waste bin.

In one aspect, a cooking device is provided and includes a frameincluding a plurality of coupled pipes for providing structural supportto the cooking device. At least one of the plurality of pipes is hollowand is configured to have liquid pass therethrough. The cooking devicealso includes a sprayer configured to receive the liquid from the atleast one of the plurality of the pipes and configured to spray thefluid within the cooking device.

In one aspect, a food processing system is provided and includes a firstspiral cooking device including a base, a hood, a heating element and aspiral conveyor belt at least partially positioned in the hood, and asecond spiral cooking device including a base, a hood, a heating elementand a spiral conveyor belt at least partially positioned in the hood.The first and second spiral cooking devices are controlled independentlyof each other.

In one aspect, a spiral cooking device is provided and includes a base,a hood, and a spiral conveyor belt at least partially positioned in thehood. The spiral conveyor belt is selectively positioned in a firstconfiguration, in which the spiral conveyor belt has a first pluralityof tiers and a first spacing between the first plurality of tiers, and asecond configuration, in which the spiral conveyor belt has a secondplurality of tiers and a second spacing between the second plurality oftiers. The first plurality of tiers is different than the secondplurality of tiers and the first spacing is different than the secondspacing.

In one aspect, a cooking device is provided and is configured to provideuniform airflow, temperature, air speed and humidity in order to cookfood product in a highly efficient manner.

In one aspect, a spiral cooking device is provided and includes a firstcooking zone with air configured to move horizontally therethrough in afirst direction, a second cooking zone with air configured to movehorizontally therethrough in a second direction different than the firstdirection, and a spiral conveyor belt at least partially positioned inthe first cooking zone and the second cooking zone. The spiral conveyorbelt is configured to transport food product thereon through the firstcooking zone and the second cooking zone.

In one aspect, the second direction may be opposite the first direction.

In one aspect, the spiral cooking device may be circular in shape, andthe first direction may be a center-out direction and the seconddirection may be an outside-in direction.

In one aspect, the spiral cooking device may further include a firstadjustable opening in fluid communication with the first cooking zoneand a second adjustable opening in fluid communication with the secondcooking zone. Heated air may be configured to pass through the firstadjustable opening into the first cooking zone and heated air may beconfigured to pass through the second adjustable opening into the secondcooking zone. A size of the first adjustable opening and a size of thesecond adjustable opening may be adjustable.

In one aspect, the spiral cooking device may further include a thirdcooking zone with air configured to move horizontally therethrough, afourth cooking zone with air configured to move horizontallytherethrough, a fifth cooking zone with air configured to movehorizontally therethrough, and a sixth cooking zone with air configuredto move horizontally therethrough.

In one aspect, the first through sixth cooking zones may beconsecutively positioned around the spiral cooking device.

In one aspect, the spiral cooking device may further include a hooddefining a cavity therein. The first, second, third, fourth, fifth andsize cooking zones may be within the cavity in the hood.

In one aspect, the spiral conveyor belt may include a plurality of tiersand a plurality of cooking locations. The spiral conveyor belt may beconfigured to transport food product through the plurality of cookinglocations. One of the plurality of cooking locations may be positionedat each of the plurality of tiers, and both the plurality of tiers andthe plurality of cooking locations may be at least partially positionedin the first cooking zone and the second cooking zone.

In one aspect, air may be configured to move horizontally through theplurality of cooking locations positioned in the first cooking zone inthe first direction, and air may be configured to move horizontallythrough the plurality of cooking locations positioned in the secondcooking zone in the second direction.

In one aspect, the spiral conveyor belt may include a first tier and asecond tier positioned above the first tier. The first tier and thesecond tier may be positioned in both the first cooking zone and thesecond cooking zone. A first cooking location may be defined between thefirst tier and the second tier in the first cooking zone, air may beconfigured to move horizontally through the first cooking location inthe first direction, and a second cooking location may be definedbetween the first tier and the second tier in the second cooking zone.Air may be configured to move horizontally through the second cookinglocation in the second direction.

In one aspect, the spiral cooking device may further include a firstopening in fluid communication with the first cooking location. Heatedair may be configured to pass through the first opening into the firstcooking location in the first direction. The spiral cooking device mayalso include a second opening in fluid communication with the secondcooking location. Heated air may be configured to pass through thesecond opening into the second cooking location in the second direction.

In one aspect, the first opening may be a first adjustable opening thatis adjustable to change a size thereof, and the second opening may be asecond adjustable opening that is adjustable to change a size thereof.

In one aspect, the first adjustable opening and the second adjustableopening may be adjustable independent of each other.

In one aspect, the first cooking zone may include a first heatingelement positioned in the first cooking zone and the second cooking zonemay include a second heating element positioned in the second cookingzone.

In one aspect, the spiral cooking device may further include a hooddefining a cavity therein. The first and second cooking zones may bewithin the cavity of the hood.

In one aspect, a spiral cooking device is provided and includes ahousing, a spiral conveyor belt at least partially positioned in thehousing and providing a central opening inside the spiral conveyor belt,and a conveyor belt drive member configured to drive the spiral conveyorbelt. The conveyor belt drive member is positioned externally of thecentral opening.

In one aspect, the housing may include a base and a hood. The hood maybe moveable relative to the base to selectively provide access insidethe hood.

In one aspect, the spiral cooking device may further include a liftingmechanism coupled between the base and the hood to selectively move thehood between a lowered position, in which the hood may engage the baseto facilitate a seal between the hood and the base and a liftedposition, in which the hood may be vertically raised relative to thebase and does not provide a seal between the base and the hood.

In one aspect, the housing may include a base and a hood. The hood maybe rigidly coupled to the base. The spiral cooking device may furtherinclude a plurality of doors coupled to the hood. The doors may bemoveable relative to the hood to selectively provide access inside thehood.

In one aspect, the spiral conveyor belt may include an interior edge andan exterior edge. The interior edge may define the central opening, andthe conveyor belt drive member may engage the exterior edge of thespiral conveyor belt.

In one aspect, the conveyor belt drive member may include a sprocketthat engages the exterior edge of the spiral conveyor belt to drive thespiral conveyor belt.

In one aspect, the spiral conveyor belt may be a helical conveyor beltincluding an interior edge and an exterior edge. The interior edge ofthe helical conveyor belt may define the central opening.

In one aspect, the helical conveyor belt may include a plurality oftiers, and the conveyor belt drive member may include a plurality ofsprockets. One of the plurality of sprockets may engage the exterioredge of the helical conveyor belt at each of the plurality of tiers ofthe helical conveyor belt.

In one aspect, the helical conveyor belt may include a plurality oftiers, and the conveyor belt drive member may include a motor, a firstspindle, a first plurality of sprockets, a second spindle and a secondplurality of sprockets. The first plurality of sprockets may be rigidlycoupled to the first spindle. The first spindle may be coupled to andconfigured to be rotated by the motor. The second plurality of sprocketsmay be rigidly coupled to the second spindle. The second spindle may becoupled to and configured to be rotated by the motor. One of the firstplurality of sprockets and one of the second plurality of sprockets mayengage the exterior edge of the helical conveyor belt at each of theplurality of tiers of the helical conveyor belt.

In one aspect, the spiral cooking device may further include a heatingelement positioned in the central opening defined by the helicalconveyor belt.

In one aspect, the spiral cooking device may further include a cookinglocation, an air infeed path and an air return path. The helicalconveyor belt may be configured to move food product through the cookinglocation, the air infeed path may be in fluid communication with thecooking location and may be configured to direct heated air into thecooking location, the air return path may be in fluid communication withthe cooking location and may be configured to receive air exiting thecooking location, and one of the air infeed path and the air return pathmay be positioned in the central opening defined by the helical conveyorbelt.

In one aspect, the spiral cooking device may further include a heatingelement positioned in the central opening defined by the helicalconveyor belt.

In one aspect, a conveyor belt cleaning device is provided and includesa brush configured to engage a conveyor belt, a sprayer configured tospray fluid, a soak bin configured to hold an amount of fluid throughwhich the conveyor belt is configured to pass prior to engagement withthe brush, and a filter device configured to receive a combination offluid from the sprayer and debris dislodged from the conveyor belt.

In one aspect, the filter device may include a filter belt at leastpartially positioned below the brush to receive the combination of fluidand debris.

In one aspect, the filter belt may be oriented in a non-horizontalmanner.

In one aspect, the filter belt may define a plurality of holestherethrough. The plurality of holes may be sufficiently sized to allowthe fluid from the combination of fluid and debris to pass therethroughand inhibit the debris from the combination of fluid and debris frompassing therethrough.

In one aspect, the filter belt may be configured to rotate.

In one aspect, the conveyor belt cleaning device may further include adebris bin at least partially positioned under the filter belt. Rotationof the filter belt may be configured to cause debris resting on top ofthe filter belt to fall from the filter belt and into the debris bin.

In one aspect, the conveyor belt cleaning device may further include afluid bin at least partially positioned under the filter belt. Fluidfrom the combination of fluid and debris may be configured to fall intothe fluid bin.

In one aspect, the filter belt may define a plurality of holestherethrough. The plurality of holes may be sufficiently sized to allowthe fluid from the combination of fluid and debris to pass therethroughand inhibit the debris from the combination of fluid and debris frompassing therethrough. Fluid passing through the plurality of holes mayfall into the fluid bin.

In one aspect, the filter belt may be oriented in a non-horizontalmanner such that fluid that fails to pass through the plurality of holesmay flow down the filter belt toward and into the fluid bin.

In one aspect, the conveyor belt cleaning device may further include apump. The fluid bin may be in fluid communication with the sprayer andthe pump may be configured to pump the fluid contained within the fluidbin to the sprayer for reuse.

In one aspect, the filter belt may be wrapped around at least tworollers and may be configured to rotate about the rollers. The filterbelt may include two ends. The conveyor belt cleaning device may furtherinclude a waste bin positioned at least partially below one of the twoends of the filter belt. Rotation of the filter belt may be configuredto cause debris resting on top of the filter belt to fall from the oneof the two ends of the filter belt and into the debris bin.

In one aspect, the conveyor belt cleaning device may further include anair knife configured to blow air at the filter belt to assist withremoval of debris from the filter belt.

In one aspect, the brush may be a rotatable brush.

In one aspect, the brush may be a first brush configured to engage afirst surface of the conveyor belt. The conveyor belt cleaning devicemay further include a second brush configured to engage a second surfaceof the conveyor belt with the second surface being different than thefirst surface.

In one aspect, the first brush may be positioned above the conveyor beltand the second brush may be positioned below the conveyor belt.

In one aspect, the brush may be a first brush configured to engage asurface of the conveyor belt. The conveyor belt cleaning device mayfurther include a second brush configured to engage the surface of theconveyor belt.

In one aspect, the first and second brushes may both be positionedeither above the conveyor belt or below the conveyor belt.

In one aspect, the brush may be one of a first plurality of brushespositioned above the conveyor belt and may be configured to engage afirst surface of the conveyor belt. The conveyor belt cleaning devicemay further include a second plurality of brushes positioned below theconveyor belt and may be configured to engage a second surface of theconveyor belt. The first surface may be different than the secondsurface.

In one aspect, the first plurality of brushes and the second pluralityof brushes may be moveable toward and away from the conveyor belt.

In one aspect, the first plurality of brushes and the second pluralityof brushes may be linearly moveable toward and away from the conveyorbelt.

In one aspect, the conveyor belt cleaning device may further include alock associated with the brush. The lock may be moveable between anunlocked condition, in which the brush may be moveable toward and awayfrom the conveyor belt, and a locked condition, in which the brushcannot move toward and away from the conveyor belt.

In one aspect, the brush and the sprayer may both be positioned eitherabove or below the conveyor belt.

In one aspect, the sprayer may be one of a plurality of sprayersconfigured to spray fluid onto the conveyor belt.

In one aspect, the plurality of sprayers may all be positioned eitherabove or below the conveyor belt.

In one aspect, the sprayer may be one of a first plurality of sprayersconfigured to spray fluid onto a first surface of the conveyor belt. Theconveyor belt cleaning device may further include a second plurality ofsprayers configured to spray fluid onto a second surface of the conveyorbelt. The first surface may be different than the second surface.

In one aspect, the sprayer may be a nozzle.

In one aspect, the filter device may include a first pipe and a secondpipe surrounding the first pipe. The first pipe may include a pluralityof apertures therein, and the combination of fluid and debris may beconfigured to be pumped into the first pipe and the plurality ofapertures may be configured to allow fluid to pass therethrough into thesecond pipe and may inhibit debris from passing therethrough. Debrisfrom the combination of fluid and debris may be configured to be pumpedfrom the first pipe via a debris outlet and the fluid from thecombination of fluid and debris may be configured to be pumped from thesecond pipe via a fluid outlet.

In one aspect, the filter device may be one of a plurality of filterdevices.

In one aspect, the plurality of filter devices may be coupled in serieswith one another.

In one aspect, a spiral cooking device may include a housing, a heatingelement positioned in the housing, a helical conveyor belt at leastpartially positioned in the housing, and a conveyor belt cleaningdevice. The conveyor belt cleaning device may be configured to clean thehelical conveyor belt.

In one aspect, a cooking device is provided and includes a frame and asprayer. The frame includes a plurality of coupled pipes for providingstructural support to the cooking device. At least one of the pluralityof pipes is hollow and is configured to have liquid pass therethrough.The sprayer is configured to receive the liquid from the at least one ofthe plurality of the pipes and configured to spray the fluid within thecooking device.

In one aspect, the cooking device may further include a base defining adrain and a basin therein. The basin may be sloped downward toward thedrain.

In one aspect, the sprayer may be a nozzle.

In one aspect, the cooking device may further include a heating elementconfigured to heat air. The heating element may be supported by theframe.

In one aspect, the cooking device may further include a heating elementconfigured to heat air. The heating element may be supported by the atleast one of the plurality of pipes.

In one aspect, the cooking device may further include a heating elementconfigured to heat air. The heating element may be connected to theframe.

In one aspect, the cooking device may further include a heating elementconfigured to heat air. The heating element may be connected to the atleast one of the plurality of pipes.

In one aspect, the cooking device may further include a conveyor beltsupported by the frame.

In one aspect, the cooking device may further include a conveyor beltsupported by the at least one of the plurality of pipes.

In one aspect, the cooking device may further include a conveyor beltconnected to the frame.

In one aspect, the cooking device may further include a conveyor beltconnected to the at least one of the plurality of pipes.

In one aspect, a spiral cooking device is provided and includes ahousing defining a cavity therein and a frame coupled to the housing andat least partially positioned within the cavity. The frame includes aplurality of pipes coupled together. At least one of the plurality ofpipes is hollow and is configured to have liquid pass therethrough. Thespiral cooking device also includes a pump in fluid communication withthe at least one of the plurality of pipes to pump liquid through the atleast one of the plurality of pipes, a heating element positioned withinthe cavity of the housing and supported by the frame, a helical conveyorbelt at least partially positioned within the cavity of the housing andsupported by the frame, and a sprayer in fluid communication with thepump and configured to receive the liquid from the at least one of theplurality of the pipes and configured to spray the fluid within thecavity of the housing.

In one aspect, a food processing system is provided and includes a firstspiral cooking device and a second spiral cooking device. The firstspiral cooking device includes a first housing defining a first cavity,a first heating element positioned in the first cavity, a first spiralconveyor belt at least partially positioned in the first cavity, a firstinlet and a first outlet. The first spiral conveyor belt is configuredto convey a food product through the first cavity from the first inletto the first outlet. The second spiral cooking device includes a secondhousing defining a second cavity, a second heating element positioned inthe second cavity, a second spiral conveyor belt at least partiallypositioned in the second cavity, a second inlet and a second outlet. Thesecond spiral conveyor belt is configured to receive the food product atthe second inlet and convey the food product through the second cavityfrom the second inlet to the second outlet. The first spiral cookingdevice and the second spiral cooking device are controlled independentlyof each other.

In one aspect, the first spiral cooking device and the second spiralcooking device are spaced-apart from one another.

In one aspect, the first housing and the second housing are spaced-apartfrom one another.

In one aspect, the first spiral cooking device may include a firstchimney in fluid communication with the first cavity and the secondspiral cooking device may include a second chimney in fluidcommunication with the second cavity.

In one aspect, the first housing may include a first base and a firsthood moveable relative to the first base, and the second housing mayinclude a second base and a second hood moveable relative to the secondbase. The first hood and the second hood may be moveable independent ofeach other.

In one aspect, the food processing system may further include a foodproduct treatment device positioned between the first spiral cookingdevice and the second spiral cooking device. The food product treatmentdevice may be configured to receive the food product from the firstoutlet, treat the food product, and deliver the food product to thesecond inlet.

In one aspect, a food processing system is provided and includes a firstspiral cooking device including a first housing defining a first cavity,a first heating element positioned in the first cavity, a first inletand a first outlet. The food processing system also includes a secondspiral cooking device including a second housing defining a secondcavity, a second heating element positioned in the second cavity, asecond inlet and a second outlet. The food processing system furtherincludes a conveyor belt at least partially positioned in the firstcavity of the first spiral cooking device and at least partiallypositioned in the second cavity of the second spiral cooking device. Theconveyor belt is configured to convey a food product through the firstcavity from the first inlet to the first outlet and is configured toconvey the food product through the second cavity from the second inletto the second outlet. The conveyor belt has a first helical confirmationin the first cavity and a second helical configuration in the secondcavity.

In one aspect, the first spiral cooking device and the second spiralcooking device may be controlled independently of each other.

In one aspect, the first spiral cooking device and the second spiralcooking device may be spaced-apart from one another.

In one aspect, the first housing and the second housing may bespaced-apart from one another.

In one aspect, the first spiral cooking device may include a firstchimney in fluid communication with the first cavity and the secondspiral cooking device may include a second chimney in fluidcommunication with the second cavity.

In one aspect, the first housing may include a first base and a firsthood moveable relative to the first base, and the second housing mayinclude a second base and a second hood moveable relative to the secondbase. The first hood and the second hood may be moveable independent ofeach other.

In one aspect, a cooking device is provided and includes a housingdefining a cavity therein, a heating element positioned in the cavity ofthe housing, and a helical conveyor belt at least partially positionedin the cavity of the housing. The helical conveyor belt is selectivelypositioned in, one at a time, a first configuration, in which thehelical conveyor belt has a first plurality of tiers, and a secondconfiguration, in which the helical conveyor belt has a second pluralityof tiers different than the first plurality of tiers.

In one aspect, the first configuration may further include a firstspacing between the first plurality of tiers, and the secondconfiguration may further include a second spacing between the secondplurality of tiers. The first spacing may be different than the secondspacing.

In one aspect, the cooking device may further include a conveyor beltdrive member configured to engage and drive the helical conveyor beltwith the helical conveyor belt in either the first configuration or thesecond configuration.

In one aspect, the conveyor belt drive member may engage an exterior ofthe helical conveyor belt.

In one aspect, the helical conveyor belt may include an interior edgeand an exterior edge. The conveyor belt drive member may be configuredto engage the exterior edge of the helical conveyor belt.

In one aspect, the helical conveyor belt may include an interior edgeand an exterior edge. The interior edge defines an interior of thehelical conveyor belt, and the conveyor belt drive member is notpositioned in the interior of the helical conveyor belt.

In one aspect, the conveyor belt drive member may be selectivelypositioned in a first configuration to engage and drive the helicalconveyor belt with the helical conveyor belt in the first configuration,and a second configuration to engage and drive the helical conveyor beltwith the helical conveyor belt in the second configuration.

In one aspect, the conveyor belt drive member may include a spindle anda plurality of sprockets positioned along the spindle. The plurality ofsprockets may be configured to engage the helical conveyor belt.

In one aspect, the conveyor belt drive member may include a spindle, andthe spindle may be configured to include either a first plurality ofsprockets positioned along the spindle to engage the first plurality oftiers of the helical conveyor belt, or a second plurality of sprocketspositioned along the spindle to engage the second plurality of tiers ofthe helical conveyor belt. The second plurality of sprockets isdifferent than the first plurality of sprockets.

In one aspect, a quantity of the first plurality of tiers is equal to aquantity of the first plurality of sprockets, and a quantity of thesecond plurality of tiers is equal to a quantity of the second pluralityof sprockets.

In one aspect, with the helical conveyor belt in the firstconfiguration, one of the first plurality of sprockets may engage eachof the first plurality of tiers, and with the helical conveyor belt inthe second configuration, one of the second plurality of sprockets mayengage each of the second plurality of tiers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure can be better understood with reference to the followingdrawings and description. The components in the figures are notnecessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustratingthe principles of the disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a top, front perspective view of one example of a cookingassembly including one example of a pair of spiral cooking devices andexamples of other devices used in a cooking operation, according to oneaspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is top, front perspective view of one of the exemplary spiralcooking devices shown in FIG. 1, according to one aspect of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 3 is a top, rear perspective view of the spiral cooking deviceshown in FIG. 2, according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a top, front perspective view of the spiral cooking deviceshown in FIG. 2 with one example of a hood or cover of the spiralcooking device in a raised position, according to one aspect of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a top, rear perspective view of a portion of the spiralcooking device shown in FIG. 2 with the hood and heating elementsremoved to illustrate other components of the spiral cooking device,according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is top perspective view of a portion of the spiral cooking deviceshown in FIG. 2 including one example of a conveyor belt and one exampleof a conveyor belt drive member, according to one aspect of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 7 is a top view of a portion of the exemplary conveyor belt and aportion of the exemplary conveyor belt drive member shown in FIG. 6,according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a top perspective view of one example of a portion of theconveyor belt shown in FIGS. 5-7, according to one aspect of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 9 is a top perspective view of one example of a portion of theconveyor belt shown in FIGS. 5-7, according to one aspect of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 10A is an elevational view of one example of a configuration of theconveyor belt and conveyor belt drive member shown in FIGS. 5-7,according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10B is an elevational view of another example of a configuration ofthe conveyor belt and conveyor belt drive member shown in FIGS. 5-7,according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 11 is a top, front perspective view of a portion of the spiralcooking device shown in FIG. 2 with the hood removed to illustrate othercomponents of the spiral cooking device, according to one aspect of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 12 is a top view of a portion of the spiral cooking device shown inFIG. 2 with a hood removed, examples of cooking zones and air flowdirections over food product represented, according to one aspect of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the spiral cooking device takenalong line 13-13 in FIG. 2, according to one aspect of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged view of a portion of the cross-sectional viewshown in FIG. 13, according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 15 is an enlarged view of a portion of the cross-sectional viewshown in FIG. 14, according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 16 is a top, perspective view of a portion of another spiralcooking device including one example of a second plate with openings,according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 17 is an elevational view of a portion of the spiral cooking deviceshown in FIG. 16, according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 18 is an elevational cross-sectional view of a portion of thespiral cooking device shown in FIG. 2 including one example of aconveyor belt cleaning device, according to one aspect of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 19 is a top cross-sectional perspective view of the spiral cookingdevice and exemplary conveyor belt cleaning device shown in FIG. 18,according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 20 is an enlarged view of a portion of the spiral cooking deviceand the conveyor belt cleaning device shown in FIG. 18, according to oneaspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 20A is a top perspective view of a portion of the conveyor beltcleaning device shown in FIG. 20, according to one aspect of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 21 is a top perspective view of a portion of one example of afilter belt of the conveyor belt cleaning device shown in FIG. 18,according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 22 includes elevational and top views of a portion of anotherexample of a filter belt of the conveyor belt cleaning device shown inFIG. 18, according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 23 is a top perspective view of a portion of the conveyor cleaningdevice shown in FIG. 18 including one example of brushes and one exampleof a mechanism for moving the brushes, according to one aspect of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 24A is a schematic top, front perspective view of a portion of thespiral cooking device shown in FIG. 2 including one example of a base,one example of a frame and one example of a cooker cleaning device,according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 24B is a top, front perspective view of the spiral cooking deviceshown in FIG. 2 with various components removed to illustrate internalcomponents of the spiral cooking device, this figure including a moredetailed representation of the frame and the cooker cleaning deviceshown in FIG. 24A, according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 25A is a schematic top, front perspective view of the exemplaryschematic frame shown in FIG. 24A including integrated water pipes ofthe cooker cleaning device and support pipes of the frame, according toone aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 25B is a top, front perspective view of the spiral cooking deviceshown in FIG. 2 with various components removed to illustrate internalcomponents of the spiral cooking device, this figure including a moredetailed representation of the integrated water pipes of the cookercleaning device and support pipes of the frame shown in FIG. 25A,according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 26A is a top, front perspective view of one example of a base ofthe spiral cooking device shown in FIG. 2 including one example of adrain and one example of a sloped basin sloped toward the drain,according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 26B is a top, front perspective view of another example of a baseof a spiral cooking device including another example of a drain andanother example of a sloped basin sloped toward the drain, according toone aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 27 is a top, perspective view of a portion of a spiral cookingdevice including one example of an interior wall and an exterior wallcontacting a base of the spiral cooking device to provide one example ofa seal, according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 28 is a bottom perspective view of an underside or interior of thehood of the spiral cooking device shown in FIG. 27 including one exampleof engagement members for providing a seal between the hood and othercomponents of the spiral cooking device, according to one aspect of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 28A is an elevational cross-sectional view of the spiral cookingdevice shown in FIG. 2 with examples of engagement members illustratedin FIG. 28 emphasized, according to one aspect of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 28B is an elevational cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 28Aexcept the hood of the spiral cooking device is at least partiallyraised relative to a substructure of the spiral cooking device with theengagement members of the hood and the substructure emphasized,according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 28C is a top perspective cross-sectional view of the spiral cookingdevice shown in FIG. 2 with the engagement members of the hood andsubstructure emphasized, according to one aspect of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 28D is a top perspective cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 28Cexcept the hood is at least partially raised relative to thesubstructure with the engagement members thereof emphasized, accordingto one aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 28E is a top perspective view of the substructure of the spiralcooking device shown in FIG. 2 with the engagement members of thesubstructure emphasized, according to one aspect of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 29 is a top view of the spiral cooking device shown in FIG. 2 withthe hood removed to expose components of the spiral cooking device, inthis figure the plurality of cooking zones are illustrated in a firstconfiguration, according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 30 is a top view of another example of a spiral cooking device withthe hood and the plurality of cooking zones in a second configuration,according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 31 is an elevational cross-sectional view of another example of aspiral cooking device including one example of different height airreturn paths and air infeed paths, according to one aspect of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 32 is an elevational cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 31including indicators for examples of air directions, and indicators foran air return path and air infeed path, according to one aspect of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 33 is a bottom perspective view of one example of an interior of ahood of the spiral cooking device shown in FIG. 31 including indicatorsfor examples of air directions, according to one aspect of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 34 is a cross-sectional bottom perspective view of a portion of thehood shown in FIG. 33 including indicators for examples of airdirections, according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 35 is one example of a block diagram of one example of a spiralcooking device with the components and functionality of this one exampleof the spiral cooking device being capable of applying to any of thespiral cooking devices disclosed herein, according to one aspect of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 36 is a schematic representation of a portion of one example of aspiral cooking device including one example of a fuel valveconfiguration, according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 37 is a schematic representation of a portion of another example ofa spiral cooking device including another example of a fuel valveconfiguration, according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 38 is a schematic representation of a plurality of exemplaryconfigurations of multiple spiral cooking devices in exemplary cookingassemblies, according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 39 is a top perspective view of a portion of one example of aspiral cooking device including a plurality of moveable side plates tofacilitate access to interior components of the spiral cooking device,according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 40 is a perspective view of another example of a filter deviceuseable with a belt cleaning device, according to one aspect of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 41 is a top, front perspective view of another example of a spiralcooking device with a hood removed to illustrate structure underneaththe hood, according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 42 is a cross-sectional view of the spiral cooking device shown inFIG. 41, according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 43 is a top perspective view of another example of a conveyor beltdrive member, according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 44 is a top, front perspective view of another example of a cookingassembly including one example of a single, spiral conveyor belt usedwith a pair of spiral cooking devices, according to one aspect of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 45 is a top, rear perspective view of the spiral conveyor beltshown in FIG. 44, according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 46 is a perspective view of another example of a filter deviceuseable with a belt cleaning device, according to one aspect of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 47 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 47-47 in FIG. 46,according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, one example of a cooking assembly 20 isillustrated. In this example, the cooking assembly 20 includes aplurality of spiral cooking devices 24 and other food product treatmentdevices 28. The cooking assembly 20 is capable of including any numberof spiral cooking devices 24 (including one) and any number of otherfood product treatment devices 28 (including zero). In the illustratedexample, the spiral cooking devices 24 are configured to cook foodproduct to a desired extent. The cooking assembly 20 is capable ofincluding any number of other food product treatment devices 28 capableof treating the food product in a wide variety of manners. For example,a first food product treatment device 28A may be a fryer, and may bepositioned upstream of the spiral cooking devices 24 and may beconfigured to fry food product. Also, for example, the second foodproduct treatment device 28B may be a liquid smoke device positionedbetween the spiral cooking devices 24 and may be configured to brown,color and/or flavor the food product. In other examples, the cookingassembly 20 is capable of including other food product treatment devices28 such as, for example, forming machines, breaders, coaters, dusters,boiling device, impingement ovens, freezers, etc.

In the illustrated example, the spiral cooking devices 24 are similar instructure, but are configured to operate independently of each other.The first spiral cooking device 24A is oriented in a first position andincludes a housing 29. In the illustrated example, the housing 29includes a base 32 and a hood 36. The spiral cooking device 24A alsoincludes an inlet 40, in which food product enters the first spiralcooking device 24A after being transported downstream from the firstfood product treatment device 28A, and an outlet 44, in which foodproduct exits the first spiral cooking device 24A and transportsdownstream toward the second food product treatment device 28B. Thefirst spiral cooking device 24A includes a helical or spiral conveyorbelt 48 that rotates in a first direction, takes food product at a firstor lower level from the inlet 40, transports the food product throughthe first spiral cooking device 24A in an upward direction, thentransports the food out of the first spiral cooking device 24A via theoutlet 44 at a second or higher level (higher than the first level).

In some examples, it may be desirable to have the outlet 44 of the firstspiral cooking device 24A at the same or similar level as the inlet 40of a subsequent spiral cooking device. The illustrated example is one ofsuch examples. In the illustrated example, the second spiral cookingdevice 24B is oriented in a second position, in which the inlet 40 andoutlet 44 are switched from the configurations associated with the firstspiral cooking device 24A in the first position. In other words, thesecond spiral cooking device 24B is rotated or positioned about 180degrees relative to the position of the first spiral cooking device 24A.In this second position, the second spiral cooking device 24B includes ahousing 29. In the illustrated example, the housing 29 includes a base32 and a hood 36. The spiral cooking device 24B also includes an inlet40 at the second or higher level and an outlet 44 at the first or lowerlevel. The second spiral cooking device 24B includes a spiral conveyorbelt 48 similar to the spiral conveyor belt 48 included in the firstspiral cooking device 24A, except the spiral conveyor belt 48 of thesecond spiral cooking device 24B rotates in a second direction oppositethe first direction. By rotating in this second direction, the secondspiral conveyor belt 48 takes food product at the second or higher levelfrom the inlet 40, transports the food product through the second spiralcooking device 24B in a downward direction, then transports the foodproduct out of the second spiral cooking device 24B via the outlet 44 ata first or lower level. In other examples, the plurality of spiralcooking devices 24 may have different configurations such as, forexample, their configurations may be reversed such that the first spiralcooking device 24A in the cooking assembly 20 has its inlet 40 at thehigher level, the plurality of spiral cooking devices 24 may be orientedin the same position (in which case, intermediate food product treatmentdevice(s) may be positioned between the plurality of spiral cookingdevices to accommodate the difference in height between the outlet andinlet of the spiral cooking devices, or any other possibleconfigurations).

It should be understood that multiple spiral cooking devices 24 may beused together and such spiral cooking devices 24 may have a variety ofconfigurations relative to each with all possibilities intended to bewithin the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. For example, withreference to FIG. 38, a plurality of schematic representations ofalternative examples of spiral cooking device orientations are shown.Also, it should be understood that any number of spiral cooking devices24 may be used in the cooking assembly 20 in any configuration relativeto each other and all of such possibilities are intended to be withinthe spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

In one example, with respect to FIGS. 44 and 45, a plurality of spiralcooking devices 24 used in a cooking assembly may share a single, spiralconveyor belt 48 that traverses the inlet 40 of a first spiral cookingdevice 24A, the outlet of the first spiral cooking device 24A, the inlet40 of a second spiral cooking device 24B, the outlet 44 of the secondspiral cooking device 24B, then returns to the first spiral cookingdevice 24A. The single, spiral conveyor belt 48 is capable of moving orconveying food product through both the first spiral cooking device 24Aand the second spiral cooking device 24B. In examples where a single,spiral conveyor belt 48 is used with more than two spiral cookingdevices, the single, spiral conveyor belt 48 is capable of moving foodproduct through all of the spiral cooking devices. Any number of spiralcooking devices may share a single spiral conveyor belt and all of suchpossibilities are intended to be within the spirit and scope of thepresent disclosure.

With continued reference to FIG. 1, each of the plurality of spiralcooking devices 24 may be operated independently of each other. Variouscooking characteristics are controllable during cooking operations ofthe spiral cooking devices 24. Such cooking characteristics and theircontrollability will be described in more detail below. Even though thespiral cooking devices 24 may be controlled independently from oneanother, the spiral cooking devices 24 may be controlled similarly tocook food product in a similar manner or they may be controlleddifferently to cook food product in different manners.

As indicated above, the plurality of spiral cooking devices 24 areconfigured to have similar structure. Accordingly, only one of thespiral cooking devices 24 will be described hereinafter with it beingunderstood that the cooking assembly 20 is capable of having any numberof spiral cooking devices 24 and the following description andassociated figures applying to any and all possible spiral cookingdevices 24.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, one exemplary spiral cooking device 24 isillustrated. The spiral cooking device 24 is configured to cook a widevariety of food products passing therethrough in a variety of desiredmanners. For example, food products that may be cooked by the spiralcooking device 24 may include, but are not limited to, beef, chicken,pork, seafood, or any other comestible material, and may include a widevariety of forms including, but not limited to, patties, chicken legs,chicken wings, meatballs, filets, chunks, or any other form. In oneexample, the food product is of the type and form to be able towithstand the motion through the spiral cooking device 24.

The spiral cooking device 24 includes heating elements 52 (see, e.g.,FIG. 13) and such heating elements 52 may be powered or fueled in avariety of manners. In one example, the fuel may be thermal oil. Itshould be understood that the spiral cooking device 24 may operate witha wide variety of fuels or other heat sources and all of suchpossibilities are intended to be within the spirit and scope of thepresent disclosure. In other examples, the spiral cooking device 24 mayinclude electric heating elements, which would be powered byelectricity.

With continued reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the spiral cooking device 24includes interchangeable inlets 40 and outlets 44 depending on theposition of the spiral cooking device 24 in the cooking assembly 20 andthe direction of rotation of the conveyor belt 48 (described in moredetail below). For purposes of the following description, the inlet 40will be associated with the first or lower level and the outlet 44 willbe associated with the second or higher level, with it being understoodthat the inlet 40 and outlet 44 may be reversed.

In the illustrated example, the spiral cooking device 24 includes ahousing 29 comprised of a base 32 and a cover or hood 36. In theillustrated example, the hood 36 is moveable relative to the base 32. Inother examples, the hood 36 may be rigidly coupled to and non-moveablerelative to the base 32. In the illustrated example, the spiral cookingdevice 24 also includes a pair of chimneys 34 and a plurality of liftingmechanisms 56. The chimneys 34 may be capable of exhausting smoke, heat,air, etc., from the interior of the spiral cooking device 24. Thelifting mechanisms 56 are configured to selectively move the hood 36relative to the base 32. In the illustrated example, spiral cookingdevice 24 includes three lifting mechanisms 56. In other examples, thespiral cooking device 24 may include any number of lifting mechanisms 56(including zero, one or more than three) and all of such possibilitiesare intended to be within the spirit and scope of the presentdisclosure. In an example where one lifting mechanism 56 is utilized,the single lifting mechanism 56 may be centrally located in the spiralcooking device 24 and hood 36, and one or more guide members may belocated near an exterior wall of the hood 36 and exterior wall of thesubstructure 150 to assist with guiding the hood 36 between raised andlowered positions.

In one example, the lifting mechanisms 56 are each powered or driven insync to operate together in moving the hood 36 relative to the base 32.In another example, the lifting mechanisms 56 may be mechanicallycoupled to ensure proper alignment and synchronized lifting of the hood36. The lifting mechanisms 56 may be driven in a wide variety ofmanners. In one example, each lifting mechanism 56 is driven by its ownmotor or drive member. In another example, the lifting mechanisms 56 areall powered or driven by the same motor or drive member. In otherexamples, the lifting mechanisms 56 may be driven in any one or more ofa variety of manners including, but not limited to, screw drive,hydraulically, pneumatically, etc.

The lifting mechanisms 56 may move the hood 36 between a downward,sealed or operating position (see FIGS. 2 and 3) and an upward, removed,unsealed or non-operating position (see FIG. 4). The lifting mechanisms56 are configured to be controlled to move the hood 36 to anyintermediate position between the downward and upward positions. In theillustrated example, the use of three lifting mechanisms 56 may be apreferred number of lifting mechanisms 56 due to their ability toequally distribute the weight of the hood 36 and equally apply liftingforces to the hood 36 in the equilateral triangular configuration of thelifting mechanisms 56. In the illustrated example, the hood 36 isgenerally cylindrical in shape and a hood of this shape can beadequately lifted with only three lifting mechanisms 56. In one example,the lifting mechanisms 56 are equally distributed or spaced around aperimeter of the hood 36. In other examples, the lifting mechanisms 56may be distributed or spaced around the perimeter of the hood 36 in anymanner and in any orientation relative to each other. Lifting orelevating the hood 36 relative to the remainder of the spiral cookingdevice 24 facilitates manual cleaning of the spiral cooking device 24along with providing easy access to the components of the spiral cookingdevice 24 for repairing and/or replacing the components of the spiralcooking device 24.

In the illustrated example, each lifting mechanism 56 includes astationary portion 60 coupled to the base 32 and a moveable portion 64coupled to the hood 36. The moveable portion 64 is positioned in andtranslates relative to the stationary portion 60.

In another example, the spiral cooking device may include a housingenclosing internal components of the spiral cooking device and one ormore doors or access panels included in the housing to provide access toan interior of the housing. The spiral cooking device with a housing anddoors would replace the moveable hood. The one or more doors or accesspanels would be movable to allow access to the internal components ofthe spiral cooking device. In one example, the one or more doors wouldbe coupled to the housing with one or more hinges or other componentsallowing pivoting or rotating of the one or more doors relative to theremainder of the housing. In another example, the one or more doors maybe removed from the remainder of the housing. In a further example, thedoors may be pivotal/rotatable relative to and removable from theremainder of the housing.

With reference to FIGS. 4-9, the spiral cooking device 24 includes aspiral transport device or spiral conveyor belt 48 configured totransport food product through the spiral cooking device 24. The spiralconveyor belt 48 is comprised of appropriate structure and material forfood handling applications. The spiral conveyor belt 48 is capable ofhaving a variety of configurations and all of such possibilities areintended to be within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.The illustrated example is provided to demonstrate at least some of theprinciples of the present disclosure and is not intended to be limitingupon the present disclosure.

In the illustrated example, the spiral conveyor belt 48 wraps aroundvarious pulleys or rollers 68 disposed throughout the spiral cookingdevice 24. In some examples, these rollers 68 are passive rollers. Inother examples, one or more of the rollers 68 are drive rollers toassist with driving the spiral conveyor belt 48. In the illustratedexample, the spiral cooking device 24 includes a belt tensioning device70 capable of moving at least one of the rollers 68A toward and awayfrom the conveyor belt 48 to selectively apply more or less tension tothe conveyor belt 48. The belt tensioning device 70 may be actuated in avariety of manners including, but not limited to, pneumatically,hydraulically, screw drive, motorized, among others.

The spiral cooking device 24 also includes a conveyor drive member 72for driving the spiral conveyor belt 48. The conveyor drive member 72 isconfigured to rotate in either direction in order to rotate or move thespiral conveyor belt 48 in either direction. For example, the conveyordrive member 72 may rotate in a first direction to rotate the spiralconveyor belt 48 in the first direction, which results in the inlet 40of the spiral cooking device 24 being oriented at the lower level andthe outlet 44 oriented at the higher lever. Also, for example, theconveyor drive member 72 may rotate in a second direction to rotate thespiral conveyor belt 48 in the second direction, which results in theinlet 40 of the spiral cooking device 24 being oriented at the higherlevel and the outlet 44 being oriented at the lower level.

In the illustrated example, the spiral cooking device 24 includes asingle conveyor drive member 72. In other examples, the spiral cookingdevice 24 may include any number of conveyor drive members 72 and all ofsuch possibilities are intended to be within the spirit and scope of thepresent disclosure.

Returning to the illustrated example, the conveyor drive member 72 ispositioned externally of the spiral conveyor belt 48 (i.e., between theconveyor belt 48 and interior surface 77 (see, e.g., FIGS. 13, 14, 16,27) of the hood 36) and is configured to engage an exterior 76 of thespiral conveyor belt 48 in order to drive the spiral conveyor belt 48.The conveyor drive member 72 includes a plurality of sprockets or gears80 engaging the exterior 76 of the spiral conveyor belt 48. The spiralconveyor belt 48 traverses around the spiral cooking device 24 a numberof times, thereby providing a plurality of cooking levels, layers ortiers of the spiral conveyor belt 48. In the illustrated example, theconveyor drive member 72 includes a sprocket 80 for each tier of thespiral conveyor belt 48 such that the conveyer drive member 72 engagesevery tier of the spiral conveyor belt 48 near the conveyor drive member72. In another example, the conveyor drive member 72 may include lesssprockets 80 than the number of tiers of the spiral conveyor belt 48. Insuch an example, less than all the tiers of the spiral conveyor belt 48will be engaged by the conveyor drive member 72. In one example, theconveyor drive member 72 includes a sufficient number of sprockets 80 toengage every other tier of the spiral conveyor belt 48. It should beunderstood that the conveyor drive member 72 is capable of including anynumber of sprockets 80 and is capable of engaging any number of tiers ofthe spiral conveyor belt 48 and all of such possibilities are intendedto be within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. A motor ordrive source 84 may be coupled to the drive member 72 at a bottomthereof. The drive member 72 may include a drive spindle 88 positionedto an exterior of the conveyor belt 48 coupled to and driven by thedrive source 84. The plurality of sprockets 80 coupled to the drivespindle 88 engage the exterior 76 of the various tiers of the conveyorbelt 48. The drive source 84 is capable of rotating the spiral conveyorbelt 48 at a variety of different speeds and may be controlledelectronically via a control member and/or computer system.

In another example, with respect to Fig. the drive member 72 may includetwo spindles 88 and a plurality of sprockets 80 coupled to each of thetwo spindles 88. Both spindles 88 are positioned to an exterior of thespiral conveyor belt 48 and the two sets of sprockets 80 would engagethe exterior 76 of the spiral conveyor belt 48. In this example, onemotor or drive source 84 may be coupled to both drive spindles 88, via arespective gear box 87, to drive the spindles 88 or a plurality ofmotors or drive sources may be coupled to the spindles 88 to drive thespindles 88.

The conveyor belt 48 may have a variety of different configurations ororientations within the spiral cooking device 24. The conveyor belt 48may be configured within the spiral cooking device 24 to have differentspacing between tiers of the conveyor belt 48. Various spacing betweenthe conveyor belt tiers may be done for a variety of reasons including,but not limited to, accommodating various food products having differentheights, accommodating different desired cooking times or exposure timesto heat within the spiral cooking device 24, maintaining as low or assmall of a tier spacing as possible to maintain a high air speed throughthe cooking locations 152 above and between the various tiers of thespiral conveyor belt 48, or a variety of other reasons.

With reference to FIGS. 10A and 10B, two examples of conveyor beltconfigurations are illustrated. These exemplary configurations are notintended to be limiting upon the present disclosure. Rather, they areprovided to demonstrate at least some of the principles of the presentdisclosure. With particular reference to FIG. 10A, the conveyor belt 48is shown in a first configuration with a first spacing H1 between alltiers of the conveyor belt 48. To accommodate this first spacing H1between tiers of the conveyor belt 48, the conveyor drive member 72includes sprockets 80 that are equally spaced to the spacing H1 betweentiers such that the sprockets 80 engage the exterior 76 of the conveyorbelt 48. Since the conveyor belt 48 is a spiral conveyor belt 48oriented in a spiral or helical orientation and must convey food productupwards or downwards depending on the direction of rotation of theconveyor belt 48, the conveyor belt 48 has a pitch or angle at which theconveyor belt 48 angles up or inclines to the next tier (or anglesdownward). In the example illustrated in FIG. 10A, the angle isrepresented by a θ and may be any angle. As indicated above, the spiralconveyor belt 48 may have any spacing between tiers and any number oftiers. Accordingly, the angle θ may be any angle to accomplish thisvariability. For comparison, reference is made to FIG. 10B wherein asecond spacing H2 between all tiers of the conveyor belt 48 is largerthan the first spacing H1 of the tiers shown in FIG. 10A. To facilitatethis difference in spacing between conveyor belt tiers in theillustrated example, the pitch or incline of the conveyor belt 48 isgreater than the pitch or incline of the conveyor belt 48 shown in FIG.10A. In the example illustrated in FIG. 10B, the pitch or incline isrepresented by angle α and is greater than the angle θ associated withFIG. 10A. Similar to FIG. 10A, the drive member 72 illustrated in FIG.10B includes a complementary number of sprockets 80 to engage theexterior 76 of the various tiers of the spiral conveyor belt 48. Sincethe spacing H2 is greater between tiers of the conveyor belt 48, theconveyor belt 48 in FIG. 10B has less conveyor belt tiers and the drivemember 72 includes fewer sprockets 80. In the illustrated examples shownin FIGS. 10A and 10B, an equal spacing or distance is provided betweenall the tiers of the conveyor belts. It should be understood that theconveyor belt may have different spacings between tiers of the conveyorbelt and any number of different spacings may occur between the tiers,and all of such possibilities are intended to be within the spirit andscope of the present disclosure. It should also be understood that thespiral cooking device 24 may have any number of tiers and all of suchpossibilities are intended to be within the spirit and scope of thepresent disclosure. For example, the illustrated example of the spiralcooking device in the majority of the figures (e.g., FIGS. 5, 10, 13,etc.) includes ten tiers formed by the spiral conveyor belt 48, FIG. 10Billustrates a spiral cooking device 24″ including six tiers formed bythe spiral conveyor belt 48″, and FIGS. 41 and 42 illustrate a spiralcooking device 24′″ including five tiers formed by the spiral conveyorbelt 48′″. These illustrated examples are merely provided to demonstrateat least some of the principles of the present disclosure and are notintended to be limiting upon the present disclosure.

With reference to FIGS. 5-7, 11 and 13-17, the spiral cooking device 24of the present disclosure eliminates the existence of a drive member(otherwise known as a drive drum) in the interior 91 of the spiralconveyor belt 48 by driving the spiral conveyor belt 48 on an exteriorof the spiral conveyor belt 48. By eliminating obstructions in theinterior 91 of the spiral conveyor belt 48, air and heat distribution isnot interrupted, blocked, diverted or otherwise interfered with in theinterior 91 of the spiral conveyor belt 48. Furthermore, lack of a drivedrum in the interior 91 of spiral conveyor belt 48 allows positioning ofother components of the spiral oven in the interior 91 such as, forexample, components associated with cooking the food product. Thesefeatures provide more even and consistent air and heat distributionwithin the spiral cooking device 24. In one example, the spiral conveyorbelt 48 includes an interior edge 89 and an exterior edge 90. Theinterior edge 89 may define the interior 91 of the spiral conveyor belt48.

Referring now to FIGS. 6-9, one example of a spiral conveyor belt isillustrated. In this illustrated example, the spiral conveyor belt 48includes a plurality of rods 92, a plurality of inner members 96 and aplurality of outer members 100. One of the inner members 96 isillustrated in FIG. 8 and one of the outer members 100 is illustrated inFIG. 9. Each inner member 96 includes a first aperture 104 and a secondaperture 108 and each outer member 100 includes a first aperture 112 anda second aperture 116. In the illustrated example, the inner members 96are configured in an overlapping manner such that a first aperture 104of one inner member 96 is aligned with and overlaps a second aperture108 of another or adjacent inner member 96. An inner end 120 of each rod92 is positioned in the aligned apertures 104, 108 of the overlappinginner members 96 and includes a head or enlarged member 124 larger thanthe size of the aligned first and second apertures 104, 108 to inhibitthe inner end 120 of the rod 92 from exiting or uncoupling from theoverlapping inner members 96. In the illustrated example, the rod 92 issized complementary to the size of the first and second apertures 104,108 of the inner members 96. That is, the rod 92 is sized similarly tothe size of the first and second apertures 104, 108 such that there islittle to no clearance between the rods 92 and inner members 96. Thislimited to no clearance inhibits significant movement of the inner ends120 of the rods 92 relative to the inner members 96, thereby maintaininga substantially constant spacing of the inner ends 120 of the rods 92relative to one another.

Similarly to the inner member 96, in the illustrated example, the outermembers 100 are configured in an overlapping manner such that a firstaperture 112 of one outer member 100 is aligned with and overlaps asecond aperture 116 of another or adjacent outer member 100. An outerend 128 of each rod 92 is positioned in the aligned apertures 112, 116of the overlapping outer members 100 and includes a head or enlargedmember 132 larger than the size of the aligned first and secondapertures 112, 116 to inhibit the outer end 128 of the rod 92 fromexiting or uncoupling from the overlapping outer members 100. Theenlarged head 132 at the outer end 128 of each rod 92 is also engageableby the sprockets 80 of the conveyor drive member 72. The enlarged heads132 and sprockets 80 are appropriately sized and shaped to withstand theforces applied thereto during driving of the spiral conveyor belt 48,ensure proper and reliable engagement between the enlarged heads 132 andsprockets 80 and to ensure adequate driving of the spiral conveyor belt48.

In the illustrated example, the first and second apertures 112, 116 ofthe outer members 100 are sized larger than the size of the rods 92.This difference in size between the first and second apertures 112, 116of the outer member 100 and the rods 92 allows the outer ends 128 of therods 92 to move relative to the outer members 100, thereby allowing theouter ends 128 of the rods 92 to move relative to each other and providevariable spacing between the outer ends 128 of the rods 92. In theillustrated example, the rods 92 are circular in cross-section, thefirst and second apertures 104, 108 of the inner members 96 are circularto accommodate the circular rods 92, and the first and second apertures112, 116 of the outer members 100 are elongated slots havingsemi-circular ends to accommodate the circular rods 92. It should beunderstood that the rods 92 and apertures 104, 108, 112, 116 of theinner and outer members 96, 100 may have any shape or shapes and all ofsuch possibilities are intended to be within the spirit and scope of thepresent disclosure.

In the illustrated example, the first and second apertures 112, 116 ofthe outer members 100 are generally horizontal and elongated slots,which allow the outer ends 128 of the rods 92 to move horizontally, butinhibit vertical movement of the outer ends 128 of the rods 92. Thesehorizontal slots allow the outer ends 128 of the rods 92 to adjustspacing relative to each other, but maintain the rods 92 in asubstantially planar orientation to support food product thereon. Thefirst and second apertures 112, 116 of the outer member 100 areconfigured to accommodate all configurations of the spiral conveyor belt48 as it moves through the spiral cooking device 24. For example, insome instances the spiral conveyor belt 48 is in a helical or spiralconfiguration within the spiral cooking device 24 and in other instancesthe spiral conveyor belt 48 is in a straight configuration (e.g., at theinlet, the outlet and when the belt is passing through the belt wash).In the spiral configuration, the outer ends 128 of the spiral conveyorbelt 48 are spaced wider apart than the inner ends 120 of the rods 92 inorder to provide an arcuate or spiral shape to the spiral conveyor belt48, whereas in the straight configuration the outer ends 128 and theinner ends 120 of the rods 92 are at approximately the same spacing toprovide a straight conveyor. In the illustrated example, ends of thefirst and second slots 112, 116 of the outer members 100 define twoextreme positions for the rods 92. These extreme positions areassociated with or define a widest spacing of the outer ends 128 of therods 92 and a narrowest spacing of the outer ends 128 of the rods 92.The widest spacing of the outer ends 128 of the rods 92 is establishedby the first and second slots, which enable the spiral conveyor belt 48to handle all curved or arcuate configurations of the spiral conveyorbelt 48 occupied during operation of the spiral cooking device 24. Thenarrowest spacing of the outer ends 128 of the rods 92 is associatedwith the spacing of the first and second apertures 104, 108 in the innermembers 96 in order to match the spacing of the inner ends 120 of therods 92 or to allow arcuate configurations of the conveyor belt 48 in anopposite manner than that described above. In one example, the spiralconveyor belt 48 may have a turn ratio of about 1.6. In this example, aturn ratio may be equal to (central opening of spiral conveyor belt)divided by (belt width multiplied by 2). It should be understood thatthe present example of a turn ratio is provided to demonstrate at leastsome of the principles of the present disclosure and is not intended tobe limiting upon the present disclosure. The spiral conveyor belt iscapable of having a wide variety of turn ratios and all of suchpossibilities are intended to be within the spirit and scope of thepresent disclosure.

In one example, a control member 94 (described in more detail below) maycontrol the spiral conveyor belt 48 at various speeds to adjust thecooking time of the food products. The control member 94 may also adjustthe direction of movement of the spiral conveyor belt 48. In oneexample, the control member 94 could control the spiral conveyor belt 48to advance or transport a food product through the spiral cooking device24 between about 5 minutes and about 150 minutes. In one example, thecontrol member 94 could control the spiral conveyor belt 48 to move at amaximum speed of about 25 to 30 meters per minute.

In one example, the spiral conveyor belt 48 may be about 740 millimeterswide. In such an example, the useable portion of the spiral conveyorbelt 48 that may be occupied by food product may be about 700millimeters. In another example, the spiral conveyor belt 48 may beabout 1050 millimeters wide. In such an example, the useable portion ofthe spiral conveyor belt 48 that may be occupied by food product may beabout 1000 millimeters. It should be understood that the spiral conveyorbelt 48 may have any width and any useable portion, and all of suchpossibilities are intended to be within the spirit and scope of thepresent disclosure.

As indicated above, the spiral cooking device 24 may be configured toinclude a wide variety of tiers and spacing between the tiers. A lengthof the spiral conveyor belt 48 may be dependent upon the number oftiers. In one example, the conveyor belt 48 may include about 12 metersof length for each tier or layer. It should be understood that anylength of the spiral conveyor belt may be required for each tier thereofand all of such possibilities are intended to be within the spirit andscope of the present disclosure. In some examples, the spiral conveyorbelt 48 may be between about 47 meters and about 174 meters. It shouldbe understood that the spiral conveyor belt may be any length and all ofsuch possibilities are intended to be within the spirit and scope of thepresent disclosure.

Referring now to FIGS. 11-15, the spiral cooking device 24 includes aplurality of cooking zones 136-141. In the illustrated example, thespiral cooking device 24 includes six cooking zones 136-141. In otherexamples, the spiral cooking device 24 is capable of including anynumber of cooking zones and all of such possibilities are intended to bewithin the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Additionally, itshould be understood that the shape and size of the cooking zones136-141 and the components of the spiral cooking device 24 included ineach of the cooking zones 136-141 may vary slightly or greatly, and anyand all of such variations and possibilities are intended to be withinthe spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

With particular reference to FIGS. 11 and 12, in the illustratedexample, the cooking zones 136-141 are serially oriented around thespiral cooking device 24. In order to assist with describing theplurality of cooking zones 136-141, the cooking zones 136-141 will bereferred to as the first cooking zone 136, the second cooking zone 137,the third cooking zone 138, the fourth cooking zone 139, the fifthcooking zone 140 and the sixth cooking zone 141. This manner ofnumerical labeling is not intended to be limiting upon the presentdisclosure. Additionally, this numerical identification of the zones isnot intended to imply a consecutive order of the cooking zones 136-141in either an upstream or downstream manner; however, in some examples,this numerical allocation may imply a consecutive order of the cookingzones 136-141.

As indicated above, the illustrated example of the spiral cooking device24 includes six cooking zones 136-141. In the illustrated example, thespiral cooking device 24 includes six fans 144 and six heating elements52 with one fan 144 and one heating element 52 associated with eachcooking zone 136-141. In other examples, it should be understood thatthe spiral cooking device 24 may include any number of cooking zonesand, accordingly, may include any number of fans and any number ofheating elements as long as the number of fans and the number of heatingelements are equal to the number of cooking zones 136-141. In otherwords, the spiral cooking device 24 includes a complementary number offans 144, heating elements 52 and cooking zones 136-141. In furtherexamples, the spiral cooking device 24 may include a different number offans 144 and/or heating elements 52 than the number of cooking zones136-141.

In one example, with reference to FIG. 11, the fans 144 are coupled to asubstructure 150 of the spiral cooking device 24. In another example,with reference to FIG. 16, the fans 144 are coupled to the hood 36. Itshould be understood that the fans 144 may be coupled to and supportedwithin the spiral cooking device 24 in any manner and all of suchpossibilities are intended to be within the spirit and scope of thepresent disclosure.

The one or more fans 144 may be operated at a variety of differentspeeds to move the air flow through the spiral cooking device 24 atvarious speeds, and all of such possibilities are intended to be withinthe spirit and scope of the present disclosure. In one example, the fans144 may be operated at a first speed and a second speed faster than thefirst speed. In one example, the second speed may be about twice as fastas the first speed. In one example, a maximum airflow speed generated bythe fans 144 in the cooking locations may be about 10 meters per second.

With reference to FIG. 36, one example of a manner of fueling theheating elements 52 is provided. In this example, the cooking zones136-141 may be independently controlled and each cooking zone 136-141includes a pressure controlled oil valve 382 that controls the flow offuel (e.g., thermal oil) to the heating element 52.

With reference to FIG. 37, another example of a manner of fueling theheating elements 52 is provided. In this example, the cooking zones136-141 may be independently controlled and each cooking zone 136-141includes a hand valve 386 that controls the flow of fuel (e.g., thermaloil) to the heating element 52.

Referring now to FIGS. 13 and 14, a cross-section of the first andfourth cooking zones 136, 139 are illustrated in FIG. 13 and an enlargedview of the fourth cooking zone 139 is illustrated in FIG. 14. In theillustrated example of the first and fourth cooking zones 136, 139,heated air 148 is directed over the food product in a substantiallyhorizontal manner. As indicated above, the illustrated example of thespiral cooking device 24 may include a variety of tiers, levels orlayers of the spiral conveyor belt 48, thereby defining numerous cookinglocations 152 with one cooking location 152 on each of the numeroustiers of the spiral conveyor belt 48. The heated air 148 is directedhorizontally through each of the cooking locations 152 defined aboveeach tier of the spiral conveyor belt 48. In one example, to facilitatethis horizontal flow of heated air 148 over the food product in all thecooking locations 152 within all of the cooking zones 136-141, eachcooking zone 136-141 includes a fan 144, a heating element 52, an airinfeed path 156, and an air return path 160. In the illustrated exampleof the first and fourth cooking zones 136, 139 shown in FIG. 13, thefans 144 are positioned above the spiral conveyor belt 48 in bothcooking zones 136, 139.

In the first cooking zone 136 shown in FIG. 13, the fan 144 draws returnair 164 (or air that is exiting the cooking locations) from the cookinglocations 152 into a fan chamber 168 via the air return path 160. Thefan 144 then directs return air 164 from the fan chamber 168, throughthe heating element 52 where the return air 164 is heated into heatedair 148 and then directs the heated air 148 into the air infeed path156. The air infeed path 156 is configured to direct the heated air 148from the heating element 52 into the cooking locations 152. The heatedair 148 passes through the numerous cooking locations 152 in ahorizontal manner and exits the cooking locations 152 back into the airreturn path 160. The return air 164 is then drawn or directed back intothe fan chamber 168 via the fan 144 where the return air 164 is againcycled through the first cooking zone. In the illustrated example, theheated air 148 in the first cooking zone 136 moves horizontally throughthe cooking locations 152 from an interior or center of the spiralcooking device 24 toward an exterior of the spiral cooking device 24. Inother words, the heated air 148 moves inside-out in the first cookingzone 136.

In the fourth cooking zone 139 shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the fan 144draws return air 164 (or air that is exiting the cooking locations) fromthe cooking locations 152 and through the heating element 52 wherein thereturn air 164 is heated into heated air 148. The heated air 148 is thendrawn into a fan chamber 168 via the air return path 160 by the fan 144.The fan 144 then directs heated air 148 from the fan chamber 168 intothe air infeed path 156. The air infeed path 156 is configured to directthe heated air 148 into the cooking locations 152 in a horizontalmanner. The heated air 148 passes through the numerous cooking locations152 in a horizontal manner and exits the cooking locations 152 backthrough the heating element 52 and into the air return path 160. Theheated air 148 is then drawn or directed back into the fan chamber 168via the fan 144 where the heated air 148 is again cycled through thefourth cooking zone 139. In the illustrated example, the heated air 148in the fourth cooking zone 139 moves horizontally through the cookinglocations 152 from an exterior of the spiral cooking device 24 toward aninterior or center of the spiral cooking device 24. In other words, theheated air 148 moves outside-in in the fourth cooking zone 139.

With particular reference to FIG. 12, one example of horizontal flow ofthe heated air 148 through the cooking locations 152 in the plurality ofcooking zones 136-141 is illustrated. In this illustrated example, theheated air 148 moves through the first cooking zone 136 from an interioror center of the spiral cooking device 24 toward an exterior of thespiral cooking device 24, the second cooking zone 137 from an exteriorof the spiral cooking device 24 toward an interior or center of thespiral cooking device 24, the third cooking zone 138 from an interior orcenter of the spiral cooking device 24 toward an exterior of the spiralcooking device 24, the fourth cooking zone 139 from an exterior of thespiral cooking device 24 toward an interior or center of the spiralcooking device 24, the fifth cooking zone 140 from an interior or centerof the spiral cooking device 24 toward an exterior of the spiral cookingdevice 24, and the sixth cooking zone 141 from an exterior of the spiralcooking device 24 toward an interior or center of the spiral cookingdevice 24. In this example, the horizontal flow of the heated air 148alternates directions in the plurality of cooking zones 136-141. In theillustrated example, the heated air 148 is directed through the first,third and fifth cooking zones 136, 138, 140 in a first horizontaldirection and the heated air 148 is directed through the second, fourthand sixth cooking zones 137, 139, 141 in a second horizontal directionopposite the first horizontal direction. As indicated above, the spiralcooking device 24 is capable of having any number of cooking zones and,accordingly, the heated air 148 may be alternatively directed throughoutany number of cooking zones included in the spiral cooking device 24.Horizontal directing of the heated air 148 may also be considered asbeing directed in a direction generally parallel to top surfaces of thespiral conveyor belt 48.

In other examples, the heated air 148 may flow horizontally through theplurality of cooking zones 136-141 in any direction. In other examples,the heated air 148 may flow horizontally through the plurality ofcooking zones 136-141 in manners other than the illustrated example ofalternating directions. For example, the heated air 148 may movehorizontally through all the plurality of cooking zones 136-141 in thesame direction (e.g., all inside-out or all outside-in). Also, forexample, the heated air 148 may move horizontally through the pluralityof cooking zones 136-141 in groups such that, for example, at least twoconsecutive cooking zones 136-141 have heated air 148 movinghorizontally therethrough in one direction and other cooking zones136-141 have heated air 148 moving horizontally therethrough in adifferent direction. It should be understood that the spiral cookingdevice 24 is capable of moving heated air 148 through the plurality ofcooking zones 136-141, and more particularly through the cookinglocations 152) in any manner and all of such possibilities are intendedto be within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

With continued reference to FIGS. 13 and 14, in one example, the hood 36assists with defining the air flow path around the plurality of cookingzones 136-141. In one example, the hood 36 provides an upper limitingsurface positioned above the fans 144 and the fan chambers 168 toinhibit air from escaping the air flow path in an upward direction. Thehood 36 also assists with defining at least a portion of the air infeedpaths 156 and at least a portion of the air return paths 160 dependingon the cooking zone and the heated air 148 flow direction. The spiralcooking device 24 also includes a first side plate 172 in each of theplurality of cooking zones 136-141. The first side plate 172 assistswith defining the air infeed path 156. For purposes of descriptionherein, the first side plate 172 will be the plate through which heatedair 148 passes before entering the cooking locations 152.

In one example, with reference to FIGS. 13-15, all of the first sideplates 172 have substantially the same structure and function.Accordingly, only one of the first side plates 172 will be described infurther detail herein with it being understood that such description maypertain to all the first side plates 172. In the illustrated example, aplurality of openings or apertures 176 are defined through the firstside plate 172 in fluid communication with the air infeed path 156 andthe plurality of cooking locations 152. One opening 176 is aligned witheach of the plurality of cooking locations 152 to allow heated air 148to pass through the first side plate 172 and enter the cooking locations152 in a horizontal manner. In the illustrated example, the openings 176are elongated slots having a longitudinal extent extending in ahorizontal plane. In other examples, the openings 176 may have any shapeand size, and the single slot may be comprised of a plurality ofopenings, and all of such possibilities are intended to be within thespirit and scope of the present disclosure. In other examples, anynumber of openings 176 may be defined in the first side plate 172 and influid communication with the air infeed path 156 and the cookinglocations 152. For example, the first side plate 172 may include aplurality of openings 176 defined therein at each of the cookinglocations 152 to direct heated air 148 through a plurality of openings176 into each of the cooking locations 152.

In one example, the plurality of openings 176 defined in the first sideplate 172 may be adjustable and configured to change the size of theopenings 176. Decreasing the size of the openings 176 increases thevelocity of the heated air 148 passing through the openings 176 into thecooking locations 152. Conversely, increasing the size of the openings176 decreases the velocity of the heated air 148 passing through theopenings 176 into the cooking locations 152. The openings 176 may beadjustable in any manner and all of such possibilities are intended tobe within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. In oneexample, each of the openings 176 is comprised of a nozzle 180 and eachof the nozzles 180 includes a pair of converging plates (see, e.g., FIG.15) having an inlet and an outlet with the outlet being smaller than theinlet. This nozzle configuration increases the velocity and/or flow rateof the heated air 148 as it passes from the air infeed path 156 into thecooking locations 152. It should be understood that the nozzles 180 mayhave any configuration and all of such possibilities are intended to bewithin the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. In one example,the converging plates may be moved relative to each other to adjust thespacing between the two plates. Moving the plates closer together willdecrease the size of the opening 176 in the nozzle 180, therebyresulting in increasing the velocity of the heated air 148 exhaustedfrom the nozzle 180. Conversely, moving the converging plates furtherapart will increase the size of the opening 176 in the nozzle 180,thereby resulting in decreasing the velocity of the heated air 148exhausted from the nozzle 180. In one example, one of the convergingplates may be moveable and the other converging plate may be fixed. Inanother example, both converging plates may be moveable. In one example,the openings 176 or nozzles 180 defined in the first side plate 172 maybe adjusted independently of each other. For example, one opening 176 ornozzle 180 may have a smaller opening than another opening 176 or nozzle180 defined in the first side plate 172. In another example, all of theopenings 176 or nozzles 180 may be adjusted together. In a furtherexample, some of the openings 176 or nozzles 180 may be adjusted andother of the openings 176 or nozzles 180 are not adjustable.

In examples of the spiral cooking device 24 where the openings 176 areadjustable, the openings 176 may be adjusted in a variety of manners. Inone example, the openings 176 are adjustable manually. If the openings176 are adjusted manually, a person may manually loosen one or both ofthe converging plates, move the one or both of the plates to a desiredlocation, then secure the one or both of the plates in a desiredlocation. This may be performed for any number of the openings 176. Inanother example, the openings 176 may be adjusted by a control member94. In this example, the spiral cooking device 24 may include one ormore actuators and/or motors coupled to any number of the openings 176to adjust the size of the openings 176. The actuators are in electroniccommunication with the control member 94 and the control member 94 mayactivate the actuator(s) to adjust the size of the openings 176.Adjusting the openings 176 with a control member 94 provides the abilityto adjust the size of the openings 176 during cooking operation of thecooking device 24. Whereas, manual adjustment of the openings 176 mayrequire the spiral cooking device 24 to adequately cool down after thecooking operation to provide a safe condition for a person to adjust theopenings 176.

With further reference to FIGS. 13-15, in the illustrated example, thespiral cooking device 24 does not include a second side plate on anopposite side of the cooking locations 152 from the first side plate 172that may assist with defining the air return path 160. Instead, in theillustrated example, air exiting the cooking locations 152 movesdirectly into the air return path 160 or into the heating element 52depending on the cooking zone (see particularly, e.g., FIG. 14) throughthe open interior ends of the tiers of the spiral conveyor belt 48.

Referring to FIGS. 16 and 17, another example of the spiral cookingdevice 24 is illustrated and this example of the spiral cooking device24 includes a second side plate 184 in each of the plurality of cookingzones 136-141. The second side plate 184 assists with defining the airreturn path 160 or an entrance into the heating element 52 depending onthe cooking zone. For purposes of description herein, the first sideplate 172 will be the plate through which heated air 148 passes beforeentering the cooking locations 152 and the second side plate 184 will bethe plate through which air passes when exiting the cooking locations152. In this illustrated example of the spiral cooking device 24, aplurality of openings or apertures 188 are defined through the secondside plate 184 in fluid communication with the cooking locations 152 andthe air return path 160 and/or the heating element 52. Any number ofopenings 188 may be aligned with each of the cooking locations 152 toallow air to pass through the second side plate 184 and exit the cookinglocations 152 in a horizontal manner into the air return path 160 and/orthe heating element 52. In the illustrated example, the openings 188 areelongated slots having a longitudinal extent extending in a horizontalplane. In other examples, the openings 188 may have any shape, size andorientation, and all of such possibilities are intended to be within thespirit and scope of the present disclosure. In other examples, anynumber of openings 188 may be defined in the second side plate 184 andin fluid communication with the cooking locations 152 and the air returnpath 160 and/or the heating element 52. For example, the second sideplate 184 may include a single opening 188 defined therein at each ofthe cooking locations 152, or two or more openings 188 may be defined inthe second side plate 184 at each of the cooking locations 152 to allowair to exit the cooking locations 152 and enter the air return path 160and/or the heating element 52.

With continued reference to the example shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, theillustrated example of the openings 188 defined in the second side plate184 are fixed in size and shape. In other examples, the openings 188defined in the second side plate 184 may be adjustable to adjust thesize of the openings 188. In such an example, the openings 188 definedin the second side plate 184 may have any configuration, operationand/or alternatives describe with respect to the openings 176 defined inthe first side plate 172 or they may have different configurations,operations and/or alternatives, with all of such possibilities intendedto be within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

In one example, one or more of the first and second side plates 172, 184may be movable to selectively expose and cover the components of thespiral cooking device 24 behind the side plates. This movability mayallow a user to clean and/or repair/replace the components of the spiralcooking device 24 behind the side plates 172, 184.

In one example, one or more of the first and second side plates 172, 184may each be comprised of two plates with each of the two plates beingpivotable or rotatable about one or more hinges or other mechanismsallowing the one or more side plates to pivot or rotate relative to themechanism between an opened position and a closed or secured position.One or more locking mechanisms such as, for example, clasps,friction-fit mechanisms, interference-fit mechanisms, detents, latches,or other locking mechanisms may be used with the pivotable or rotatableside plates to secure the side plates in the closed or secured position.In one example, the first and second side plates 172, 184 may becomprised of a single plate each (rather than two plates each) and thesingle plate may be pivotable or rotatable about one or more hinges orother mechanisms.

In another example, one or more of the first and second side plates 172,184 may be removable from the spiral cooking device 24. The spiralcooking device 24 may include any type of coupling mechanism that allowsthe removable side plates 172, 184 to be selectively coupled to andremoved from the spiral cooking device 24. In a further example, one ormore of the first and second side plates 172, 184 may be both pivotableand removable.

With reference to FIG. 39, one example of the side plates 172, 184 thatare moveable to allow access to components behind the side plates 172,184 is illustrated. In one example, the side plates 172, 184 may bereferred to as doors 172, 184.

Referring again to FIG. 13, one example of the first and the fourthcooking zones 136, 139 are illustrated. As indicated above, the fourthcooking zone 139 is similar to the first cooking zone 136 except theposition of the heating elements 52 are reversed and the horizontal airflow over the food product in the cooking locations 152 in the fourthcooking zone 139 is in an opposite horizontal direction to the directionof the air flow through the cooking locations 152 in the first cookingzone 136 (one horizontal direction inside-out and other horizontaldirection outside-in). The fourth cooking zone 139 includes similarstructure as the first cooking zone 136, but the positioning of theheating element 52 in the fourth cooking zone 139 is reversed or onopposite sides of the cooking locations 152 than the heating element 52of the first cooking zone 136. In the first cooking zone 136, theheating element 52 is positioned near the air infeed path 156. In thefourth cooking zone 139, the heating element 52 is positioned near theair return path 160.

The spiral cooking device 24 is configured to substantially isolate thecooking zones 136-141 from one another to ensure consistent and reliablecooking conditions within each cooking zone 136-141. Additionally, insome examples, the cooking conditions within each of the cooking zones136-141 may be independently controlled to provide a desired manner ofcooking the food product in each zone and, collectively, within thespiral cooking device 24. In other examples, the spiral cooking device24 may be controlled in an efficiency mode or eco-mode where only aportion of the heating elements 52 are operated.

Examples of the components within the cooking zones 136-141 that may beindependently controlled include, but are not limited to, the fans 144,the heating elements 52, the sizes of the openings 176, 188 in the firstand/or second side plates 172, 184 and a humidity within each cookingzone 136-141 via a humidifying element (the spiral cooking device mayinclude a single humidifying element within the spiral cooking device orany number of humidifying elements throughout the spiral cooking deviceincluding, but not limited to, one or more humidifying elements in eachcooking zone). In one example, the spiral cooking device 24 may controlthe humidity for the entire spiral cooking device 24 rather thancontrolling the humidity for each cooking zone 136-141.

The spiral cooking device 24 is also capable of relatively isolating thecooking zones 136-141 by circulating air through the cooking zones136-141 at a sufficiently high velocity. The cooking zones 136-141 arein fluid communication at the cooking locations 152 above and/or betweenthe tiers of the spiral conveyor belt 48 in order to allow the belt andfood product to move around the spiral cooking device 24 through thecooking zones 136-141. Circulating the air in opposite directions at asufficiently high velocity in adjacent cooking zones inhibits the airfrom wanting to flow into an adjacent cooking zone at the cookinglocations 152. The velocity of the air flow may be a wide variety ofvelocities and may be sufficiently high to inhibit air flow betweenadjacent cooking zones 136-141 at the cooking locations 152 above thespiral conveyor belt tiers. For example, the velocity of the air may bebetween about 0 meters/second (m/s) and about 20 m/s. Also, for example,the velocity of the air may be between about 0 m/s and about 10 m/s.

Referring now to FIGS. 18-23, the illustrated example of the spiralcooking device 24 includes one, illustrated example of a belt cleaningdevice 192 capable of cleaning the spiral conveyor belt 48. The spiralconveyor belt cleaning device 192 may be a continuous cleaning device orsystem capable of continuously cleaning the spiral conveyor belt 48during operation of the spiral cooking device 24. In at least someconventional cooking devices, the cooking devices must be shut down whenit is desirable to clean the conveyor belt. This shutdown results insignificant shutdown time and loss of efficiency. The continuous beltcleaning device 192 of the present disclosure inhibits the need to shutdown the spiral cooking device 24 in order to clean the conveyor belt48.

In the illustrated example, the spiral conveyor belt 48 is directed intoa soak bin, container or receptacle 196 containing water therein. Thespiral conveyor belt 48 is submerged in the soak bin 196 for a period oftime prior to further cleaning operations. Soaking the spiral conveyorbelt 48 may help facilitate removal or cleaning of debris from theconveyor belt 48. The soak bin 196 has a water level 200 and a bottom ofthe bin is angled to facilitate draining when necessary. An overflowopening or drain 201 is defined in a side wall of the soak bin 196 andhelps control the water level 200 in the soak bin 196.

In the illustrated example, the spiral conveyor belt 48 is then directedout of the soak bin 196 and past one or more sprayers or nozzles 202configured to spray fluid onto the conveyor belt 48 upon exiting thesoak bin 196. The one or more sprayers 202 may act as an initial rinseor cleaning upon exiting the soak bin 196. The spiral conveyor belt 48is then directed through a dripping zone 203 where fluid from thesprayers 202 and any possible debris have an opportunity to fall or dropform the spiral conveyor belt prior to passing to the next cleaningprocess.

In the illustrated example, the spiral conveyor belt 48 is then directedbetween two pairs of brushes 204-207. The brushes 204-207 are configuredto engage the conveyor belt 48 and brush or otherwise engage theconveyor belt 48 to loosen or dislodge debris that is positioned on theconveyor belt 48. The brushes 204-207 can have a variety ofconfigurations and can be made of a variety of materials, and all ofsuch possibilities are intended to be within the spirit and scope of thepresent disclosure. For example, the brushes 204-207 may include a flatcircumference, a plurality of projections or nodules extending outwardfrom the circumference, a plurality of bristles, or any otherconfiguration. Additionally, for example, the brushes 204-207 (includingtheir circumference, projections, nodules, bristles, etc.) may be madeout of a wide variety of materials including, but not limited to,stainless steel, plastic, rubber, metal, composite materials, or anyother material. In other examples, the spiral cooking device 24 mayinclude other numbers of brushes such as, for example a single pair ofbrushes, a single brush or any number of brushes, and all of suchpossibilities are intended to be within the spirit and scope of thepresent disclosure.

In the illustrated example, the spiral conveyor belt 48 passes betweenthe two pairs of brushes 204-207. The top brushes 204, 206 engage afirst surface of the conveyor belt 48 and the bottom brushes 205, 207engage a second surface of the conveyor belt 48 opposite the firstsurface. In one example, the brushes 204-207 may be driven or rotated bya motor or other actuation device. In such an example, a single motormay drive all the brushes 204-207, each brush 204-207 may be driven byits own motor or any number of motors may be utilized to drive thebrushes 204-207. In other examples, the brushes 204-207 may be passiveand unpowered and movement of the spiral conveyor belt 48 past thebrushes 204-207 will cause the brushes 204-207 to rotate. In still otherexamples, the brushes 204-207 may be rigid and non-rotatable ornon-movable, and provide friction or abrasion to the conveyor belt 48 asit passes between the brushes 204-207. In this example, the brushes204-207 may act like wipers that wipe against the two surfaces of theconveyor belt 48 to dislodge debris. Returning to the illustratedexample, the brushes 204-207 extend at least the width of the spiralconveyor belt 48 and in some cases wider than the spiral conveyor belt48 to ensure the entire width of the spiral conveyor belt 48 is engagedby the brushes 204-207. In other examples, the brushes 204-207 mayextend only a portion of the width of the spiral conveyor belt 48 toengage only a portion of the width of the spiral conveyor belt 48. Inother examples, a plurality of linearly aligned brushes, each shorterthan the width of the spiral conveyor belt 48, may be utilized togetherto extend a portion of the width of the conveyor belt 48, as wide as thewidth of the conveyor belt 48 or wider than the width of the conveyorbelt 48.

A plurality of sprayers or nozzles 210-214 capable of spraying a fluidonto the spiral conveyor belt 48 are orientated adjacent to or near thespiral conveyor belt 48. In the illustrated example, a first set ofupper sprayers 210 and a first set of lower sprayers 211 are orientedupstream of the first pair of brushes 204, 205 (upstream establishedbased on the direction of movement of the spiral conveyor belt—in otherwords, the spiral conveyor belt passes by the first sets of upper andlower sprayers prior to the first pair of brushes). In this example, thefirst sets of upper and lower sprayers 210, 211 spray fluid onto thespiral conveyor belt 48 to loosen and/or dislodge debris that is on thespiral conveyor belt 48. By having the first sets of upper and lowersprayers 210, 211 upstream of the first pair of brushes 204, 205, thefirst sets of upper and lower sprayers 210, 211 may initially loosenand/or dislodge debris and the first pair of brushes 204, 205 maysubsequently engage the spiral conveyor belt 48 to remove the debrisfrom the spiral conveyor belt 48. In one example, the sprayers 210, 211spray reused water (described in more detail below). In another example,the sprayers 210, 211 spray clean water from a clean water source. In afurther example, the sprayers 210, 211 may spray a mixture of water andcleaning solution including, but not limited to, soap, bleach, etc. Inyet another example, the sprayers 210, 211 spray air.

Returning to the illustrated example, the first sets of upper and lowersprayers 210, 211 extend at least the width of the spiral conveyor belt48 and in some cases wider than the spiral conveyor belt 48 to ensurethe entire width of the spiral conveyor belt 48 is sprayed by the firstsets of upper and lower sprayers 210, 211. In other examples, the firstsets of upper and lower sprayers 210, 211 may not extend the entirewidth of the spiral conveyor belt 48, but are capable of spraying theentire width of the spiral conveyor belt 48. In still other examples,the sprayers 210, 211 may spray at least the useable width of theconveyor belt 48. In the illustrated example, the first set of uppersprayers 210 is disposed above the spiral conveyor belt 48 or disposedabove a nip 216 between the first pair of brushes 204, 205 through whichthe spiral conveyor belt 48 passes and the first set of lower sprayers211 is disposed below the spiral conveyor belt 48 or disposed below thenip 216. The first set of upper sprayers 210 spray the fluid downwardtoward the spiral conveyor belt 48 and generally toward the nip 216. Thefirst set of lower sprayers 211 spray the fluid upward toward the spiralconveyor belt 48 and generally toward the nip 216. In other examples,the spiral cooking device 24 may include any number of first sets ofupper and lower sprayers 210, 211 arranged in any number of rows ofsprayers or any other configuration. For example, sprayers may only bedisposed above or below the spiral conveyor belt 48.

The spiral conveyor belt 48 then passes through the first pair ofbrushes 204, 205 and through the second pair of brushes 206, 207.Subsequent to passing through the second pair of brushes 206, 207, thespiral conveyor belt 48 passes through second sets of upper and lowersprayers or nozzles 212, 213. In the illustrated example, the second setof upper sprayers 212 and the second set of lower sprayers 213 areoriented downstream of the second pair of brushes 206, 207 (downstreamestablished based on the direction of movement of the spiral conveyorbelt—in other words, the spiral conveyor belt passes by the second pairof brushes prior to the second sets of upper and lower sprayers). Inthis example, the second sets of upper and lower sprayers 212, 213 sprayfluid onto the spiral conveyor belt 48 to loosen and/or dislodge debristhat is on the spiral conveyor belt 48. By having the second sets ofupper and lower sprayers 212, 213 downstream of the second pair ofbrushes 206, 207, the second sets of upper and lower sprayers 212, 213may loosen and/or dislodge debris that the second pair of brushes 206,207 loosened, but did not dislodge. In one example, the sprayers 212,213 spray reused water (described in more detail below). In anotherexample, the sprayers 212, 213 spray clean water from a clean watersource. In a further example, the sprayers 212, 213 may spray a mixtureof water and cleaning solution or soap. In yet another example, thesprayers 212, 213 spray air.

Returning to the illustrated example, the second sets of upper and lowersprayers 212, 213 extend at least the width of the spiral conveyor belt48 and in some cases wider than the spiral conveyor belt 48 to ensurethe entire width of the spiral conveyor belt 48 is sprayed by the secondsets of upper and lower sprayers 212, 213. In other examples, the secondsets of upper and lower sprayers 212, 213 may not extend the entirewidth of the spiral conveyor belt 48, but are capable of spraying theentire width of the spiral conveyor belt 48. In further examples, theupper and lower sprayers 212, 213 may not extend the entire width of theconveyor belt 48, but will spray at least the useable width of theconveyor belt 48. In the illustrated example, the second set of uppersprayers 212 is disposed above the spiral conveyor belt 48 or disposedabove a second nip 218 between the second pair of brushes 206, 207through which the spiral conveyor belt 48 passes and the second set oflower sprayers 213 is disposed below the spiral conveyor belt 48 ordisposed below the second nip 218. The second set of upper sprayers 212spray the fluid downward toward the spiral conveyor belt 48 andgenerally toward the second nip 218. The second set of lower sprayers213 spray the fluid upward toward the spiral conveyor belt 48 andgenerally toward the second nip 218. In other examples, the spiralcooking device 24 may include any number of second sets of upper andlower sprayers arranged in any number of rows of sprayers or any otherconfiguration. For example, sprayers may only be disposed above or belowthe spiral conveyor belt 48.

A third set of sprayers or nozzles 214 is disposed downstream of thesecond sets of upper and lower sprayers 212, 213. In the illustratedexample, the third set of sprayers 214 is disposed above the spiralconveyor belt 48 and sprays fluid straight down or vertical toward thespiral conveyor belt 48. In other examples, the third set of sprayers214 may be oriented to spray fluid in any direction such as, forexample, at an angle offset from vertical. In one example, the third setof sprayers 214 spray reused water (described in more detail below). Inanother example, the third set of sprayers 214 spray clean water from aclean water source. In a further example, the third set of sprayers 214may spray a mixture of water and cleaning solution or soap. In yetanother example, the third set of sprayers 214 spray air.

Returning to the illustrated example, the third set of sprayers 214extends at least the width of the spiral conveyor belt 48 and in somecases wider than the spiral conveyor belt 48 to ensure the entire widthof the spiral conveyor belt 48 is sprayed by the third set of sprayers214. In other examples, the third set of sprayers 214 may not extend theentire width of the spiral conveyor belt 48, but are capable of sprayingthe entire width of the spiral conveyor belt 48. In further examples,the third set of sprayers 214 may not extend the width of the conveyorbelt 48, but will spray at least the useable width of the conveyor belt48. In some examples, the spiral cooking device 24 may include anynumber of a third set of sprayers arranged in any number of rows ofsprayers or any other configuration. For example, the third set ofsprayers may be disposed below the spiral conveyor belt 48 or both aboveand below the spiral conveyor belt 48.

The brushes and sprayers are disposed over a waste bin or container 220which is configured to receive the sprayed fluid and any debrisdislodged from the spiral conveyor belt 48. A drain or opening 224 ispositioned in a bottom of the waste bin 220 to evacuate the fluid anddebris from the waste bin 220. In one example, a sensor 228 may bepositioned in the waste bin 220 to sense a height of fluid accumulatingin the waste bin 220. If the fluid level is too high and activates thesensor 228, the sensor 228 will send data to the control member 94 ofthe spiral cooking device 24 to indicate a high fluid level in the wastebin 220. The control member 94 may react in a variety of manners. In oneexample, the control member 94 may shutdown the spiral cooking device24. In another example, the control member 94 may activate one or moreof a visual indicator 232 (e.g., an illumination device such as a light,LED, display an item on a monitor or display, etc.) and an audibleindicator 236 (e.g., such as an audible alarm, bell, speaker, etc.). Ina further example, the control member 94 may send data or acommunication to a server, database or other electronic device where thedata will be stored and/or acted upon by at least one of a person or anelectronic device.

With continued reference to FIGS. 18-23, in one example, the cleaningdevice 192 also includes a filter device 240. The filter device 240 isconfigured to filter or separate debris from the fluid. In theillustrated example, the filter device 240 includes housing 244, a pairof rollers 248, a filter belt 252 wrapped around the rollers 248, an airknife 256, an overflow area 258, a debris bin or container 260, a fluidbin 264, an overflow of the fluid bin, and a drain 268 disposed in thefluid bin 264. At least one of the rollers 248 is driven to rotate thefilter belt 252 in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in FIGS. 18and 20. The filter belt 252 is configured to allow fluid or a portion ofthe fluid therethrough while inhibiting debris from passingtherethrough. In general, the filter belt 252 includes a plurality ofapertures or holes 272 therein sufficiently sized to allow fluid to passtherethrough and debris to remain on the filter belt 252. The filterbelt 252 is capable of having a wide variety of configurations tofacilitate this filtering or separation of debris from the fluid and allof these possibilities are intended to be within the spirit and scope ofthe present disclosure. One example of a filter belt 252 is illustratedin FIG. 21. In this example, the filter belt 252 includes a main surfacewith a plurality of apertures 272 defined therein and a plurality ofprojections or fins 276 extending upward from the main surface. Thefilter belt 252 may also include engagement members 280 for engagementby a drive member (e.g., such as a drive roller) and raised edges toassist with maintaining fluid and debris on the main surface and inhibitthe fluid and debris from running off edges of the filter belt 252.Another example of a filter belt 252 is illustrated in FIG. 22. In thisexample, the filter belt 252 is comprised of a plurality of cross wiresor cross members 284, a plurality of spiral wires or spiral members 288and a plurality of fill wires or filling members 292. The cross, spiraland fill members 284, 288, 292 are configured to provide spaces orapertures 272 in the filter belt 252 to allow fluid to passtherethrough, but maintain debris on the filter belt 252. These twoexamples of filter belts 252 are provided to demonstrate at least someof the principles of the present disclosure and are not intended tolimit the present disclosure in any way.

With particular reference to FIGS. 19 and 20, the mixture of fluid anddebris from the waste bin 220 evacuates through the drain 224 in thewaste bin 220 and falls onto the filter belt 252. The apertures 272 inthe filter belt 252 allow some of the fluid to pass therethrough and thedebris remains on the filter belt 252 because the apertures 272 are notsufficiently large to allow the debris to pass therethrough. In theillustrated example, the filter belt 252 is non-horizontally oriented orangled offset from horizontal. This inclined or declined orientation ofthe filter belt 252 allows fluid to run down the filter belt 252 andover one end of the filter belt 252 into the fluid bin 264. Thus, fluidmay either pass through the filter belt 252 into the fluid bin 264 orrun down and over one end of the filter belt 252 into the fluid bin 264.Regarding the debris, the filter belt 252 rotates in a counter clockwisedirection (as viewed in FIGS. 19 and 20) to move the debris restingthere upon toward the debris bin 260. As the filter belt 252 wrapsaround the roller 248 and moves downward around the roller 248, thedebris falls from the filter belt 252, through a chute 296 in thehousing 244 and into the debris bin 260. In the event debris remainsattached or engaged with the filter belt 252 (i.e., the debris does notfall from the filter belt), the air knife 256 is positioned adjacent theroller 248, and above the filter belt 252 and debris bin 260 to blowdebris stuck to the filter belt 252 into the debris bin 260. In oneexample, the debris bin 260 is removable and replaceable to dump orotherwise dispose of the debris positioned therein.

Fluid in the fluid bin 264 may be evacuated from the fluid bin 264through a drain 268. The drain 268 may be in fluid communication witheither or both a sewer system to permanently dispose of the fluid or anynumber of the sprayers 210-214 in the cleaning device 192 to facilitatereuse of the fluid. In examples where the fluid is reused, at least onepump 333 (see, e.g., FIG. 35) is utilized to pump the fluid to thesprayers 210-214. The pump 333 may be switched on and off by the controlmember 94 as necessary to pump the reused fluid to the sprayers. Thepump 333 may be any one of a variety of conventional pumps to performthis functionality and may be positioned anywhere in the spiral cookingdevice 24 to perform this functionality and all of such possibilitiesare intended to be within the spirit and scope of the presentdisclosure. In one example, the drain 268 is in fluid communication withthe first and second sets of upper and lower sprayers 210-213 tofacilitate spraying of reused fluid. In this example, the third set ofsprayers 214 is in fluid communication with a clean fluid source tospray clean fluid.

In one example, a sensor may be positioned in the fluid bin 264 to sensea height of fluid accumulating in the fluid bin 264. If the fluid levelis too high and activates the sensor, the sensor will send data to thecontrol member 94 of the spiral cooking device 24 to indicate a highfluid level in the fluid bin 264. The control member 94 may react in avariety of manners. In one example, the control member 94 may shutdownthe spiral cooking device 24. In another example, the control member 94may activate one or more of a visual indicator 232 (e.g., anillumination device such as a light, LED, display an item on a monitoror display, etc.) and an audible indicator 236 (e.g., such as an audiblealarm, bell, speaker, etc.). In a further example, the control member 94may send data or a communication to a server, database or otherelectronic device where the data will be stored and/or acted upon by atleast one of a person or an electronic device.

In one example, the filter device 240 may be operated continuously. Inanother example, the filter device 240 may be operated intermittently ina controlled manner. In this example, the filter device 240 is operatedintermittently to improve efficiency of the spiral cooking device 24.The filter device 240 may be in electrical communication with thecontrol member 94, which may control operation of the filter device 240based on the cooking operation of the spiral cooking device 24. Forexample, the filter device 240 may be controlled in one manner when thespiral cooking device 24 is performing a first cooking operation (e.g.,when cooking a first type of food product) and may be controlled in adifferent manner when the spiral cooking device 24 is performing asecond cooking operation (e.g., when cooking a second type of foodproduct). The filter device 240 may be controlled in a wide variety ofmanners based on a wide variety of variables (e.g., type of food productbeing cooked, length of cooking time, number of tiers of spiral conveyorbelt 48, humidity in the spiral cooking device 24, temperature in thespiral cooking device 24, speed of the spiral conveyor belt 48, etc.).In such intermittent, controlled operation, power or energy is not beingutilized by the rotation of the filter belt 252 or by the air knife 256.

With reference to FIGS. 46 and 47, another example of a filter device isillustrated. This filter device 240 may be used in combination with anyof the other filter devices disclosed herein or in place of the otherfilter devices. In examples where the filter device 240 illustrated inFIGS. 46 and 47 is used in combination with other filter devices, thefilter device 240 may receive filtered fluid from the other filterdevices and perform a further filtering process. In examples where thefilter device 240 illustrated in FIGS. 46 and 47 is used in place of orinstead of the other filter devices, the filter device 240 performs theprimary filtering process.

With continued reference to FIGS. 46 and 47, the filter device 240includes a pump 241 for pumping a combination of fluid and debris thatresulted from the conveyor belt cleaning process performed by theconveyor belt cleaning device 192 (see FIGS. 18-20). The combination offluid and debris is pumped into the filter device 240 via an inlet 242and upward into a filter element or sieve element 243. The filterelement 243 is configured to separate debris from the fluid such thatdebris is transported out of the filter element 243 in one direction viaa debris outlet 245 and filtered fluid is transported out of the filterelement 243 in a second direction via a fluid outlet 246. In theillustrated example, the filter element 243 includes an inner pipe 247and an outer pipe 249 having a larger size or diameter than the innerpipe 247 and surrounding the inner pipe 247. In one example, the innerand outer pipes 247, 249 may be concentrically oriented relative to eachother. In the illustrated example, the inner pipe 247 includes aplurality of apertures 250 defined therethrough. The combination offluid and debris are introduced into the inner pipe 247, the pluralityof apertures 250 are sufficiently sized to allow fluid to passtherethrough, but inhibit debris of a size larger than the apertures 250from passing through the apertures 250. The debris remains in the innerpipe 247 and is transported or pumped out of the filter element 243 viathe debris outlet 245. The fluid that passes through the apertures 250is transported or pumped into the outer pipe 249 and transported orpumped out of the filter element 243 via the fluid outlet 246. It shouldbe understood that the plurality of apertures 250 may have any size,shape and configuration and all of such possibilities are intended to bewithin the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

In some examples, a plurality of filter devices 240 illustrated in FIGS.46 and 47 may be used in conjunction with each other to filter thecombination fluid and debris resulting from the conveyor cleaningprocess. In such examples, the plurality of filter devices 240 may becoupled in series with one another. Filtered fluid exiting a fluidoutlet 246 of a first filtering device may be pumped or transported toan inlet 242 of a second filtering device, and so on for as many filterdevices 240 that are used in conjunction. In one example, the apertures250 in an inner pipe 247 of the first filtering device 240 in the seriesmay have a first size, the apertures 250 in an inner pipe 247 of thesecond filtering device 240 may have a second size, and so on for asmany filtering devices 240 that are used in conjunction. In one example,the first size may be larger than the second size, the second size maybe larger than a third size, and so on for as many filter devices 240that are used in conjunction. In such an example, the size of theapertures decrease in size from the first filter device 240 in theseries to the last filter device 240 in the series.

Referring now to FIG. 23, in one example, the plurality of brushes204-207 may be moved relative to the spiral conveyor belt 48. Thebrushes 204-207 may be moved for a variety of reasons including, but notlimited to, wear of the brushes 204-207, removal and/or replacement ofthe spiral conveyor belt 48, removal and/or replacement of the brushes204-207, or a variety of other reasons. In one example, the brushes204-207 may be moved manually. This example is illustrated in FIG. 23.Each brush 204-207 is associated with a lever or lock 300 that may beactuated manually to selectively secure or unsecure the associated brush204-207 from movement relative to the spiral cooking device 24. With thelocks 300 actuated or moved to an unsecured condition, the brushes204-207 may be manually moved toward or away from the conveyor belt 48as desired.

In one example, an individual may engage a tool 315 (see FIG. 23) withan engagement member 304 of a brush positioning device 306 and rotatethe tool (e.g., a hand rotated tool, a power drill, etc.) to rotate theengagement member 304. The engagement member 304 is coupled to a firstgear 308, which meshes with a second gear 312 to convert horizontalrotation to vertical rotation. The first gear 308 is rotated by rotationof the engagement member 304 which then causes the second gear 312 torotate. A threaded shaft 316 is rigidly coupled to the second gear 312and rotates with the second gear 312. A pair of complementary threadedmembers 320 threadably engage the threaded shaft 316 and move along thethreaded shaft 316 in either direction depending on the direction ofrotation of the threaded shaft 316. The upper threaded member 320 iscoupled to the upper brushes 204, 206 and the lower threaded member 320is coupled to the lower brushes 205, 207. Vertical movement of thethreaded members 320 results in vertical movement of the associatedbrushes 204-207. In the illustrated example, a pair of rods 321 areprovided to inhibit tilting of the brushes 204-207 as they movevertically. A respective one of the rods 321 extends through verticallyaligned apertures 322 associated with the brushes 204-207 with eachbrush 204-207 including a pair of apertures 322. As the brushes 204-207move vertically, the brushes 204-207 slide along the respective rod 321via the apertures 322. In this example, the upper and lower brushes204-207 move simultaneously. The brushes 204-207 are then secured inplace by actuating the locks 300 to a locked condition. This example isonly one example of the variety of different manners of moving thebrushes 204-207 relative to the spiral conveyor belt 48 and is notintended to be limiting upon the present disclosure. Rather, all of suchpossibilities are intended to be within the spirit and scope of thepresent disclosure.

In another example, the brushes 204-207 are moved individually. In afurther example, associated upper brushes 204, 206 may be moved togetherand lower brushes 205, 207 may be moved together.

In one possible scenario, the brushes 204-207 wear down over time andthe bristles or other projections thereon are worn shorter. Thus, inorder to prolong the life of the brushes 204-207, the brushes 204-207are moved toward the spiral conveyor belt 48 to reengage the shortedbristles or projections with the spiral conveyor belt 48 in a desiredmanner.

With reference to FIG. 40, another example of a filter device 240 forthe belt cleaning device 192 is illustrated. In this example, thecombination of fluid and debris evacuating the waste bin 220 via thedrain 224 falls onto the filter belt 252. In this example, the filterbelt 252 is configured into a cylindrical drum and includes fins 276 onan exterior thereof. The filter belt 252 includes apertures 272 throughwhich fluid may pass. Debris remains on the filter belt 252 since theapertures 272 are too small to all the debris to pass therethrough. Asthe filter belt 252 rotates, the debris falls from the filter belt 252into a debris bin 260. The filter device 240 in this example alsoincludes an air knife 256 to assist with dislodging any debris that maynot have fallen from the filter belt 252. Fluid that passes through thefilter belt 252 is captured by a fluid bin or fluid tray 264, which isangled or otherwise configured to convey fluid away from the filterdevice 240. The fluid may be pumped from the fluid bin 264 for reuse andspraying by any number of the sprayers 210-214 or the liquid may betransported to a sewer.

Referring now to FIGS. 24 and 25, the spiral cooking device 24 includesa frame 324 for providing support and rigidity to the spiral cookingdevice 24 and its components. The frame 324 is coupled to the housing 29and/or the base 32 and the hood 36. In one example, the frame 324 iscomprised of a plurality of interconnected pipes 328. Such pipes 328 maybe connected in a variety of manners including, but not limited to,welding, unitarily formed as one-piece, etc. The spiral cooking device24 includes a cooker cleaning device 332 (or clean-in-place device)capable of cleaning an interior of the spiral cooking device 24. Thecleaning device 332 requires a supply of clean water or, in someinstances, a combination of water and cleaning solution. The cleaningdevice 232 may include a plurality of sprayers or nozzles disposed at ornear a top of the spiral cooking device 24 within the hood 36. Oneexample of such sprayers can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 9,161,651, issuedOct. 20, 2015, which is incorporated by reference herein.

In one example, the cleaning device 332 includes a plurality of cleaningzones and each cleaning zone includes at least one sprayer. In thisexample, the control member 94 selectively controls sprayers andassociated pump or pumps to intermittently or consecutively clean thecleaning zones. In other words, not all of the cleaning zones arecleaned simultaneously. Instead, one or more of the cleaning zones arecleaned, then after completion of cleaning of these initial cleaningzone(s), subsequent one or more cleaning zones are cleaned. Thiscontinues until all the cleaning zones are cleaned. The cleaning device332 is configured to clean any number of the cleaning zonessimultaneously. In one example, the cleaning device 332 may include asensor at each sprayer to detect a blockage or otherwise drop in flow.In this example, the sensor(s) is in electrical communication with thecontrol member 94 such that the control member 94 can immediately detecta blockage and take appropriate action such as, for example, shutdownthe cleaning device 332, illuminate a visual indicator 232, activate anaudible indicator 236, transmit data to another device related to thesensed blockage, or any combination of these or other alternatives.

Conventional cooking devices may include a frame comprised of aplurality of coupled pipes that provides the necessary support andstructure to the cooking device and a cooker cleaning device separatefrom the frame. Such a cooker cleaning device of a convention cookingdevice may include its own pipes separate from the pipes of the framefor providing water or a combination water and cleaning solution tosprayers of the cooker cleaning device. In the illustrated example ofthe present disclosure, the spiral cooking device 24 utilizes at leastsome of the pipes 328A of the frame 324 to convey or transport water ora combination of water and cleaning solution to the sprayers of thecleaning device 332. Thus, in the illustrated example, the frame 324 ispart of or included in the cleaning device 332 of the spiral cookingdevice 24. In this example, the pipes 328A of the frame 324 utilized totransport water or a combination of water and cleaning solution to thesprayers are hollow and made of appropriate material to transport wateror a combination of water and cleaning solution and provide thenecessary strength to support the cooking device 24. Accordingly, atleast some of the pipes 328A both provide structural support to thespiral cooking device 24 and allow water or a combination of water andcleaning solution to transport therethrough to the sprayers for cleaningpurposes. The integrated pipes 328A that are both part of the frame 324for providing structural support and used to transport water or acombination of water and cleaning solution therethrough may be any sizeand shape. In one example, the integrated pipes 328A may have an innerdiameter of about 50 millimeters. It should be understood that thiscleaning device 332 with integrated frame 324 and water supply pipes328A may be used in a wide variety of applications other than justspiral cooking devices 24 such as, for example, fryers, linear ovens,mixers, among others. Thus, the application of this cleaning device 332to any other appropriate application is intended to be within the spiritand scope of the present disclosure.

With continued reference to FIG. 24A and additional reference to FIG.26A, in one example, the spiral cooking device 24 includes a base 32having a basin 336 defined therein for capturing water or a combinationof water and cleaning solution dispensed by the cleaning device 332 anddirecting such captured water or combination to a drain 340 defined inthe basin 336. In one example, the basin 336 includes a dike or wall 337and is sloped or angled downward toward the drain 340 to ensure thecaptured water or combination water and cleaning solution isappropriately directed toward the drain 340. Also, in this example, thedrain 340 is elongated and extends from a center of the basin 336 to thewall 337 and slopes downward from the center of the basin 336 to thewall 337. In another example, with reference to FIG. 26B, the drain 340may be substantially circular in shape and centrally located in thebasin 336. In this example, the basin 336 may equally slope around thecentrally located drain 340 toward the central drain 340. In otherexamples, the drain may be defined in the basin at other locations andthe basin may slope in different manners toward the alternativelylocated drain. It should be understood that the drain may be locatedanywhere within the basin and the basin may slope or angle downwardtoward the drain in any manner, and all of such possibilities areintended to be within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

With reference to FIGS. 27 and 28-28E, the spiral cooking device 24 isconfigured to seal in a substantially air-tight manner to inhibitleaking of heated air 148 from the hood 36 to the environment and isconfigured to seal between the cooking zones 136-141 to inhibit heatedair 148 from passing from one cooking zone to another cooking zone. Inone example, the hood 36 includes a plurality of engagement members 344configured to engage engagement members 346 of the substructure 150 ofthe spiral cooking device 24 to seal between the cooking zones 136-141.In one example, the engagement members 344, 346 are resilient to allowflexing when engaging each other to accommodate slight tolerancedifferences in the components of the spiral cooking device 24. In oneexample, the hood 36 also includes an internal wall 348 and an externalwall 352 that engage the base 32 of the spiral cooking device 24 andprovide a seal between the internal and external walls 348, 352 and thebase 32. In one example, the internal and external walls 348, 352 (or atleast a bottom portion thereof engaging the base 32) are resilient toaccommodate slight tolerance differences in the spiral cooking device 24and/or to ensure sufficient engagement to provide a seal. Bottom edgesof the internal and external walls 348, 352 engage the base 32 toprovide a seal between the hood 36 and the base 32, which inhibitsheated air 148 from escaping the spiral cooking device 24 and enteringthe surrounding environment.

Referring now to FIG. 29, in one example, the spiral cooking device 24is shown in one orientation or configuration. In this example, thespiral cooking device 24 includes a number of cooking zones 136-141 andcomplementary shaped hood 36 to provide a twelve-sided polygon as viewedfrom above. In other examples, the spiral cooking device 24 may includedifferent numbers of cooking zones 136-141 and different configurations,which may result in a different shape as viewed from above. In theexample illustrated in FIG. 29, the cooking zones 136-141 and resultinghood shape are oriented such that one vertex V1 of the hood 36 ispositioned at a bottom most point and another one of the vertices oropposite vertex V2 is positioned at a top most point. In this example,the spiral cooking device 24 has a first width W1.

It should be understood that the spiral cooking device 24 is capable ofhaving various configurations and orientations, and all of suchpossibilities are intended to be within the spirit and scope of thepresent disclosure. For example, with reference to FIG. 30, anotherexample of the spiral cooking device 24 is illustrated and in such anexample the cooking zones 136-141 and the resulting hood configurationis different than the example shown in FIG. 29. More particularly, thecooking zones 136-141 and resulting hood shape have been moved withinand relative to the spiral cooking device 24 to result in two of thetwelve flat sides of the twelve-sided polygon shape of the hoodpositioned at the top most point and the bottom most point as viewedfrom above. In this configuration, the spiral cooking device 24 has asecond width W2, which is less than the first width W1. As indicatedabove, the spiral cooking device 24 may have a variety of differentcooking zones 136-141 and a variety of different shapes associated withthe number of cooking zones 136-141. It should be understood that thespiral cooking device 24 may be configured in a variety of mannersassociated with the number of cooking zones 136-141 and such differentconfigurations may provide different dimensions of the spiral cookingdevice 24, with some of the configurations resulting in smallerdimensions, different cooking operations and/or better cookingoperations.

With reference to FIGS. 31-34, another example of a spiral cookingdevice 24′ is illustrated. The spiral cooking device 24′ illustrated inFIGS. 31-34 is capable of including any quantity of thestructure/components and having any quantity of the functionality of thespiral cooking devices 24 illustrated in FIGS. 1-30, and all of suchsimilar structure/components included in the spiral cooking device 24′have the same reference number and an “′”.

In this example, each cooking zone 136′-141′ includes an air chamber 358below the fan chamber 168′. Air passes into the air chamber 358 beforeentering the fan chamber 168′ (in which at least a portion of the fan ispositioned). The fans 144′ are not positioned in the respective airchambers 358. In the cooking zones 136′-141′, air from the air returnpaths 160′ enters the air chambers 358 prior to entering the fanchambers 168′ (see FIG. 32). To accommodate the air chambers 358, theair return path 160′ in each cooking zone 136′-141′ is shorter instature than the air infeed path 156′. That is, the air chamber 358 isbelow the fan chamber 168′ and the air return path 160′ directs thereturn air 164′ into the lower air chamber 358. The air is then directedinto the fan chamber 168′ above the air chamber 358. From the fanchamber 168′, the air is directed into the air infeed path 156′. Sincethe fan chamber 168′ is higher than the air chamber 358, the air infeedpath 156′ must be higher in stature to receive the air from the fanchamber 168′. The air infeed path 156′ then directs the air downwardtoward the cooking layers. With reference to FIGS. 33 and 34, in oneexample, the shorter air return path 160′ and the taller air infeed path156′ are at least partially defined by the hood 36′. More particularly,in some cooking zones, an interior wall 362 of the hood 36′ defines theshorter air return paths 160′ and in other cooking zones an interiorwall 366 of the hood 36′ defines the taller air infeed paths 156′. Also,in some cooking zones, an exterior wall 370 of the hood 36′ defines theshorter air return paths 160′ and in other cooking zones an exteriorwall 374 of the hood 36′ defines the taller air infeed paths 156′.

With continued reference to FIGS. 31-34, in one example, the interiorwall and exterior wall of the hood 36′ include deflectors 378 that atleast partially define the respective air return paths 160′ and airinfeed paths 156′. These deflectors 378 assist with directing air in anappropriate manner along the air return paths 160′ and air infeed paths156′. Additionally, in one example, the interior and exterior walls,along with the shape of the deflectors 378, make it easy to clean insidethe hood 36′. This exemplary configuration of the hood 36′ eliminatesany difficult to reach corners or cavities and proves smooth, easy toaccess and clean surfaces.

Referring now to FIG. 35, one example of a block diagram is illustratedand may be associated with any of the spiral cooking devices 24, 24′,24″, 24′″ illustrated and described herein. For the sake of simplicity,components illustrated in FIG. 35 will solely include the alphanumericnumber and not the one or more apostrophes even though the disclosure ofFIG. 35 may pertain to any of the spiral cooking devices 24′, 24″, 24′″.Moreover, the block diagram is not intended to be limiting upon any ofthe present disclosure or any examples of spiral cooking devices 24,24′, 24″, 24′″ disclosed herein, but is rather provided to demonstrateat least some of the principles of the present disclosure. At least someof the components included in this exemplary block diagram have beenintroduced and described above in detail. The spiral cooking devices 24,24′, 24″, 24′″ may also include one or more temperature sensors 400 andone or more humidity sensors 402 in communication with the controlmember 94. The control member 94 receives data associated with the oneor more temperature sensors 400 and/or the one or more humidity sensors402 to maintain the spiral cooking devices 24, 24′, 24″, 24′″ at adesired cooking condition. The spiral cooking devices 24, 24′, 24″, 24′″may include any number of temperature sensors 400 and any number ofhumidity sensors 402, both of which may be positioned anywhere withinthe spiral cooking devices 24, 24′, 24″, 24′″, and all of suchpossibilities are intended to be within the spirit and scope of thepresent disclosure. In one example, the spiral cooking devices 24, 24′,24″, 24′″ may include a single temperature sensor 400 and a singlehumidity sensor 402. In another example, the spiral cooking devices 24,24′, 24″, 24′″ may include a temperature sensor 400 and a humiditysensor 402 in each of the cooking zones 136-141. In a further example,the spiral cooking devices 24, 24′, 24″, 24′″ may include a singlehumidity sensor 402 therein and a temperature sensor 400 in each of thecooking zones 136-141.

In one example, the control member 94 communicates with the variouscomponents of the spiral cooking devices 24, 24′, 24″, 24′″ to retrieveand/or send information or data as necessary. The control member 94 mayinclude any necessary hardware, software or any combination thereof toachieve the processes, methods, functionalities, operations, etc., ofthe present disclosure.

In one example, the control member 94 may be comprised of one or more ofsoftware and/or hardware in any proportion. In such an example, thecontrol member 94 may reside on a computer-based platform such as, forexample, a server or set of servers. Any such server or servers may be aphysical server(s) or a virtual machine(s) executing on another hardwareplatform or platforms. The nature of the configuration of such server orservers is not critical to the present disclosure. Any server, or forthat matter any computer-based system, systems or elements describedherein, will be generally characterized by one or more processors andassociated processing elements and storage devices communicativelyinterconnected to one another by one or more busses or othercommunication mechanism for communicating information or data. In oneexample, storage within such devices may include a main memory such as,for example, a random access memory (RAM) or other dynamic storagedevices, for storing information and instructions to be executed by theprocessor(s) and for storing temporary variables or other intermediateinformation during the use of the control member 94 described herein. Inone example, the control member 94 may also include a static storagedevice such as, for example, read only memory (ROM), for storing staticinformation and instructions for the processor(s). In one example, thecontrol member 94 may include a storage device such as, for example, ahard disk or solid state memory, for storing information andinstructions. Such storing information and instructions may include, butnot be limited to, instructions to compute, which may include, but notbe limited to processing and analyzing information of all types. RAMs,ROMs, hard disks, solid state memories, and the like, are all examplesof tangible computer readable media, which may be used to storeinstructions which comprise processes, methods and functionalities ofthe present disclosure. Execution of such instructions by the controlmember 94 may cause the various computer-based elements of the controlmember 94 to perform the processes, methods, functionalities,operations, etc., described herein. In some examples, the control member94 of the present disclosure may include hard-wired circuitry to be usedin place of or in combination with, in any proportion, suchcomputer-readable instructions to implement the disclosure.

The spiral cooking devices of the present disclosure may be operated ina wide variety of manners and all of such possibilities are intended tobe within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. In oneexample, a spiral cooking device of the present disclosure may beconfigured to have a maximum cooking temperature of about 250 degreesCelsius. In one example, a spiral cooking device of the presentdisclosure may be configured to have a maximum cooking temperature ofabout 220 degrees Celsius.

It should be understood that the use of any orientation or directionalterms herein such as, for example, “top”, “bottom”, “front”, “rear”,“back”, “left”, “right”, “side”, etc., is not intended to imply only asingle orientation of the item with which it is associated or to limitthe present disclosure in any manner. The use of such orientation ordirectional terms is intended to assist with the understanding ofprinciples disclosed herein and to correspond to the exemplaryorientation illustrated in the drawings. For example, the spiral cookingdevice and any component thereof may be utilized in any orientation anduse of such terms is intended to correspond to the exemplary orientationof the spiral cooking device and its components illustrated in thedrawings. The use of these terms in association with the spiral cookingdevice and its components are not intended to limit the spiral cookingdevice or its components to a single orientation or to limit the spiralcooking device and its components in any manner.

The Abstract of the disclosure is provided to allow the reader toquickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It issubmitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpretor limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in theforegoing Detailed Description, it can be seen that various features aregrouped together in various embodiments for the purpose of streamliningthe disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted asreflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require morefeatures than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as thefollowing claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than allfeatures of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claimsare hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claimstanding on its own as a separately claimed subject matter.

While various embodiments of the disclosure have been described, it willbe apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that other embodimentsand implementations are possible within the scope of the disclosure.Accordingly, the disclosure is not to be restricted except in light ofthe attached claims and their equivalents.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A spiral cooking device comprising: ahousing with an interior surface and an exterior surface; a spiralconveyor belt at least partially positioned in the housing and arrangedin a series of consecutive tiers providing a central opening inside thespiral conveyor belt, wherein the spiral conveyor belt includes aninterior edge and an exterior edge such that the interior edge definesthe central opening; a conveyor belt drive member positioned between theexterior edge of the spiral conveyor belt and the interior surface ofthe housing and configured to drive the spiral conveyor belt, whereinthe conveyor belt drive member is positioned externally of the centralopening, wherein the conveyor belt drive member includes: a motor; afirst spindle extending from the motor; a first plurality of sprocketscoupled to the first spindle and positioned such that each of theplurality of sprockets engages the exterior edge of the spiral conveyorbelt at each of the consecutive tiers and such that the motor drives thefirst spindle and the first plurality sprockets that in turn drive eachof the consecutive tiers of the spiral conveyor belt in a commondirection; a heating element positioned in the central openingconfigured to move heated air horizontally through the consecutive tiersof the spiral conveyor belt; and a continuous conveyor belt wash devicepositioned proximate to the spiral conveyor belt, the continuousconveyor belt wash device including at least one brush engaging thespiral conveyor belt, a soak bin configured to hold an amount of fluidthrough which the spiral conveyor belt is configured to pass prior toengagement with the brush, and a filter device configured to receivedebris dislodged from the spiral conveyor belt by at least the brush. 2.The spiral cooking device of claim 1, wherein the housing includes abase and a hood, wherein the hood is moveable relative to the base toselectively provide access inside the hood.
 3. The spiral cooking deviceof claim 2, further comprising a lifting mechanism coupled between thebase and the hood to selectively move the hood between a loweredposition, in which the hood engages the base to facilitate a sealbetween the hood and the base and a lifted position, in which the hoodis vertically raised relative to the base and does not provide a sealbetween the base and the hood.
 4. The spiral cooking device of claim 1,wherein the housing includes a base and a hood, wherein the hood isrigidly coupled to the base, the spiral cooking device furthercomprising a plurality of doors coupled to the hood, wherein the doorsare moveable relative to the hood to selectively provide access insidethe hood.
 5. The spiral cooking device of claim 1, further comprising acooking location, an air infeed path and an air return path, wherein:the helical conveyor belt is configured to move food product through thecooking location; the air infeed path is in fluid communication with thecooking location and is configured to direct heated air into the cookinglocation; the air return path is in fluid communication with the cookinglocation and is configured to receive air exiting the cooking location;and one of the air infeed path or the air return path is positioned inthe central opening defined by the helical conveyor belt.
 6. The spiralcooking device of claim 1, wherein the continuous conveyor belt washdevice further includes a first sprayer to spray a further amount of thefluid onto the spiral conveyor belt, and wherein the filter device isfurther configured to receive debris additionally dislodged from theconveyor belt by the fluid sprayed by the first sprayer.
 7. The spiralcooking device of claim 6, wherein the filter device includes a filterbelt at least partially positioned below the brush to receive the debrisand the fluid from the first sprayer.
 8. The spiral cooking device ofclaim 7, wherein the filter belt is at least partially oriented in anon-horizontal manner.
 9. The spiral cooking device of claim 7, whereinthe filter belt defines a plurality of holes sufficiently sized to allowthe fluid to pass through while retaining the debris on the filter belt.10. The spiral cooking device of claim 1, wherein the housing and thespiral conveyor belt define a first cooking zone with air configured tomove horizontally therethrough in a first direction and a second cookingzone with air configured to move horizontally therethrough in a seconddirection different than the first direction.
 11. The spiral cookingdevice of claim 10, wherein the spiral cooking device is generallycircular in shape, and wherein the first direction is a center-outdirection and the second direction is an outside-in direction.